More than a dozen people were taken to the hospital after a crash involving five vehicles, including two tour buses, on an expressway in southwestern Japan on Monday, local media reported.

According to public broadcaster NHK, the accident occurred shortly before 11 a.m. local time on the outbound lanes of the Oita Expressway in Yufu City, Oita Prefecture.

Police said more than a dozen people were taken to the hospital. All were conscious when transported, and none is believed to have sustained life-threatening injuries.

Police are investigating the cause and circumstances of the accident.

xinhua