Fatal Truck Blaze Shuts Alpine Tunnel As Damage Is Probed
A truck carrying tires caught fire for unknown reasons 5.6 km from the northern portal after 6 pm, says Laurence Brassac, spokeswoman for the French side, government-owned operator Société Française du Tunnel Routier de Fréjus. This is the second recent fire in the tunnel following a non-fatal incident in 2000, she adds.
Opened in 1980, the 10-m-wide tunnel runs between Modane, France, and Bardonecchia, Italy, on the Lyons-Turin corridor, under up to 1.7 km of rock. Fire safety features include five vehicle turning areas and 11 ventilated people shelters. Ministers from France and Italy visiting the tunnel in April spoke about possibly building a second bore or gallery, but no firm plans exist.