State police at Frackville said 50 to 60 vehicles were involved in a massive pileup in the northbound lanes of Interstate 81 Monday morning.

There are fatalities, Trooper David C. Beohm of Troop L, confirmed. He said police will not release the death toll until the investigation is complete.

Beohm tweeted, “due to extensive damage and continued cleanup, we are still working to get an accurate total.”

He said nearly 24 hours later, police were still on scene trying to reach all the vehicles.

The county’s coroner, Dr. David Moylan, was quoted by The Associated Press Monday as saying five people were killed. On Tuesday, he deferred to state police for the information.

As of Tuesday morning, the northbound lanes of Route 81 are still closed between Exit 107/Tremont/Tower City and Exit 119/Highridge Park Road. Beohm expected the road to be open by midafternoon.

The incident occurred before 11 a.m. Monday, just north of Exit 116/Minersville, during a snow squall.

A preliminary press release on the state police website said there were multiple reports of injured and trapped motorists. A fire involving several vehicles was also reported by police.

Police said 24 people were injured and taken by EMS to four different hospitals.

Crash victims who were able to walk from the scene were transported by buses from Schuylkill Transportation Service to a site at the Weg­man’s Distribution Center in Highridge Industrial Park.

After triage they were taken to Goodwill Fire Company in Minersville.

With some vehicles in flames, firefighters under the direction of Eric Eichenberg, Minersville fire chief, responded to the interstate. According to reports, crews had a difficult time getting to the scene due to slippery road conditions and vehicles that were stuck on Route 901 leading to the interstate.

Firefighters set up portable dams to shuttle water to fight the fire, while rescue crews and firefighters from numerous area companies worked to free people trapped inside their vehicles. An aerial truck was used to spray water from above onto the burning vehicles.

Photographs and video footage of the aftermath show dozens of cars, tractor-trailers and box trucks strewn across the highway.

A video taken as the pileup occurs shows whiteout conditions caused by a passing snow squall. Heavy fog was also present. In that post, a Pennsylvania State Police vehicle was among those involved.

State police forensic units, Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Specialists and Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program were called to the scene.

The National Weather Service issued a snow squall warning earlier in the day.

On Feb. 19, a 40-vehicle pileup on Interstate 81 near McAdoo left five people with minor injuries.

The incident closed the interstate’s northbound lanes for six hours and was caused by a blinding snow squall.

The American Red Cross reported it responded with personnel to provide resources and assistance to affected motorists involved or affected by the pileup. Red Cross Disaster Action Team members, in coordination with local officials and emergency responders, established a reception center to provide a safe and warm central hub for motorists and their families to receive information, blankets, food and drink.

Anyone in need of Red Cross assistance should call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and select option #4 for Disaster Relief.

Bill O’Gurek and Marta Gouger contributed to this report.