A major road tunnel in Japan has collapsed, resulting in the death of at least five people who became trapped in their vehicles.

A section of the Sasago tunnel caved in on the Chuo expressway, located 50 miles west of Tokyo linking to the city of Nagoya, caved in on Saturday morning, local time.

Several vehicles are thought to have been crushed and a fire in the tunnel complicated the rescue.

The fire was extinguished about 11am local time however there are concerns that there could be further collapses.