A previously unknown vehicle has lost a "white, powdery substance" on Autobahn 7 near Göttingen - causing a southbound closure to Hesse.
According to initial findings, the substance is not dangerous, but it caused extreme slipperiness, as the police announced on Monday night.
Therefore, the autobahn between the Northeim/Nord and Hann.
Münden-Staufenberg/Lutterberg has been completely closed.
The approximately 50-kilometer section must now be cleaned by specialist companies, said a police spokesman.
This will take at least several hours and will also affect rush-hour traffic.
It is questionable whether the cleaning can be completed at all during the course of Monday.
According to a police spokesman, a diversion via the A2, A33 and A44 via Paderborn and Kassel was set up.
The incident happened late Sunday evening.
Further details were not initially known.