A significant accident and “multiple explosions,” according to the officers of the Durham Regional Police, have led to the closure of a portion of Highway 401 in the Pickering area.

An update provided by the Durham Regional Police Service’s road safety Twitter account just after 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday says the incident happened on Highway 401 near Brock Road.

An OPP official said the eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 401 between Whites Road in Pickering and Westney Road South in Ajax were closed due to the incident, causing to substantial traffic delays in the surrounding communities.

Officers also claimed Brock Road between Pickering Parkway and Plumber Street was blocked as part of their investigation.

Footage from Ontario Ministry of Transportation cameras and images on social media showed a big fire on the highway.

The circumstances leading up to the event weren’t immediately clear.

As of late Tuesday, it remained uncertain if anyone was wounded.

Meanwhile, Durham Regional Police officers warned homeowners along Brock Road and Highway 401 to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke from the flames.