Thirteen Rescued After AP-7 Tunnels Flood in Pilar de la Horadada
Thirteen people were rescued after floodwater trapped them in their vehicles inside the AP-7 tunnels at Pilar de la Horadada during torrential rain late on Monday. All were reported to be in good condition. They spent the night at a municipal shelter opened by the town council, according to municipal sources. The Local Police and […] The post Thirteen Rescued After AP-7 Tunnels Flood in Pilar de…
Thirteen individuals were rescued from their vehicles in the AP-7 tunnels of Pilar de la Horadada after floodwater trapped them during heavy rain on Monday night. All rescuers reported the victims to be in good condition. They were taken to a municipal shelter that night. Local Police and Civil Guard conducted the rescue, with an ambulance and medical staff also dispatched to the scene.
All four lanes of the Alicante–Cartagena motorway became impassable due to the floodwater, which remains closed, with traffic diverted along the N-332. The drainage system in the tunnels failed to cope with the sudden influx of rainwater. Over 50 liters of rain fell in less than an hour, exceeding the tunnel's drainage capacity.
The municipality of Pilar de la Horadada, hit hardest by the storm, had already received over 80 liters per square metre of rain over the weekend. The safety of the motorway was recently improved by the Ministry of Transport, but flooding persisted, necessitating ongoing maintenance efforts. The area remains under advisement by traffic authorities, who recommend alternative routes and caution, as other roads in the Vega Baja area also face runoff and surface water issues.
Drivers are advised to check real-time updates on the DGT traffic portal and heed regional civil protection instructions before traveling.
Written by urgent.news from The Leader's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
