Heavy snow in the Czech Republic has caused dozens of car crashes and closed down the country's major highway.

The Czech Hydro-meteorological Institute has warned the snowfall was expected to hit six of the country's 14 regions, mostly in eastern Czech Republic.

The D1 highway, a key route that links the capital Prague with the country's east, was blocked at several places after multiple crashes, including trucks.

At least two people have been injured.

Regional traffic control officials say some 100 car crashes were reported Tuesday in one southeastern region, where the country's second-largest city, Brno, is located.