MOSCOW, February 4 (RIA Novosti) - At least four people were killed and 24 injured in a traffic accident involving over fifty vehicles in the north of China late on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The accident occurred on a section of a snow-covered highway in the province of Shanxi at around 9:00 p.m. local time, the agency said citing the local authorities.

This pile-up of cars added to two other separate traffic accidents in China that killed over 30 people during the weekend.

The chain of road accidents prompted the Ministry of Public Security on Sunday to tighten traffic inspections on speeding and drunk driving, particularly in the light of the Chinese New Year festivities, also known as the annual Spring Festival.