The World's Longest Traffic Jam

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8 May 2024

On August 14, 2010, China witnessed the longest ever traffic jam--a shocking event that lasted 12  days


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The jam extended over 100 kilometers marking it as the longest traffic jam in recorded history


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The unprecedented gridlock occurred on the China National Highway 110, affecting thousands of vehicles and drivers


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The jam was caused by trucks carrying coal and construction supplies from Mongolia to Beijing


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Sources claimed that each vehicle moved a distance of 1 km each day, and some drivers reported being stuck in the traffic jam for 5 days


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Another reason for the congestion was work and maintenance taking place on the highway linking Beijing and Tibet


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As a result, stranded individuals endured days of hunger and thirst, turning their vehicles into temporary shelters


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Taking advantage of the opportunity, local residents began selling food and water to the stranded drivers at inflated prices


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Meanwhile, authorities tried to speed up traffic by allowing more trucks to enter Beijing at night


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They also asked trucking companies to suspend operations or take alternative routes. By August 26, the traffic jam finally dissipated


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