More than 200 cars were involved in a series of accidents on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway this morning. Reports said at least eight people were killed.

About 25 cars caught fire in the accidents, which happened in heavy fog, a report in Gulf News website said.

The cars smashed into each other in thick fog at around 6.45 am (0245 GMT) on the Dubai-bound side of Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Road, said eyewitnesses.

The Gulf News report said 40 people were admitted to the emergency department of Rashid Hospital in Abu Dhabi, but 20 were discharged after being given treatment.

Casualties were also taken to Al Rahba and Al Mafraq hospitals in Abu Dhabi.

An eyewitness said he could hardly see anything because of the fog. "You could see 10m in front of you," he said.

Khamis I Mohammad, deputy of traffic and patrol Abu Dhabi police said: “It was a disaster scene, everyone was speeding and after the first crash happened people just started hitting each other.

"The place looked like an earthquake zone," said another eyewitness.