On Sunday morning there was a serious fire in a vehicle in the Pfänden tunnel near Bregenz in Vorarlberg. A total of 200 people had to flee into or out of the cross tunnel. The tunnel was closed in both directions, resulting in miles of traffic jams.
At around 9:45 am, the vehicle of a German couple caught fire in the Pfänden tunnel towards Germany. According to the highway police, other drivers warned the couple about the rising smoke.
Fire forced dozens of people to flee
The driver stopped the car and flames immediately erupted from the engine compartment. Due to the heavy smoke, the couple had to seek safety in the cross tunnels. Dozens of other drivers also had to flee into the smoke-free side tunnel.
About forty people left the Pfändetunnel towards Dornbirn. According to the rescue and fire control center, the emergency services were in constant contact with road users via the tunnel control center.
Miraculously, no injuries
The few motorists who had not gotten out of their cars were then asked by the fire brigade to leave the tunnel so that the clearing work could proceed smoothly. Due to the fire, the tunnel was closed in both directions. The fire brigade managed to extinguish the fire at 10.15 am. The evacuation of the tunnel took place in an absolutely orderly manner. Miraculously, not a single person was injured, “not even smoke inhalation!”, the highway police said.
Nothing is yet known about the cause of the fire; the vehicle involved in the accident was a seven year old BMW (diesel). The closure remained in effect until noon. Long traffic jams developed on the alternative routes and on the Rhine Valley Motorway, which cleared up only slowly.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
