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VIDEO: Driver killed in Costa Blanca tunnel explosion
A truck carrying flammable material overturned in the AP-7 tunnel in Pilar de la Horadada
🚨 ACCIDENTE EN EL TÚNEL DEL PILAR DE LA HORADADA
— Onda Regional (@ORMurcia) May 9, 2025
➡️El conductor de un camión que transportaba productos inflamables ha muerto este viernes al volcar dentro de un túnel de la autopista AP-7 a la altura de Pilar de la Horadada.
➡️Ha habido gran cantidad de llamas y humo, que… pic.twitter.com/CSNaTfcMph
Tragedy struck the Costa Blanca on Friday morning, May 9, when a truck carrying flammable materials overturned and exploded inside the AP-7 tunnel in Pilar de la Horadada, close to the border with the Region of Murcia. The driver, tragically, did not survive the accident.
The crash sparked a powerful fire, with flames and thick smoke quickly filling the tunnel. Emergency services were called at 9.56am and although the fire was brought under control by just after 11am, the emergency operation is still active.
"The combination of the truck's load and the fact that it was inside a tunnel increased the severity of the fire, which generated a large amount of flames and smoke," explained the Emergency Department.
Another truck was inside the tunnel at the time, but its driver managed to escape unharmed.The fire response was massive, involving crews and vehicles from Torrevieja, Almoradí, Orihuela and Elche. The operation included multiple fire engines, tankers, rescue teams and command units, with more than a dozen firefighters on the ground.
The accident caused traffic jams on the motorway connecting the Orihuela Costa area with San Pedro del Pinatar.
The AP-7 remains closed in both directions as teams work to ventilate the area and assess the structural damage to the tunnel.
Images: Alicante Provincial Firefighters Consortium
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