{
  "id": 16282066,
  "title": "AP-7 tunnel at Pilar reopens in both directions after four-day closure",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/ap-7-tunnel-at-pilar-reopens-in-both-directions-after-four-day-closure",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-24T04:31:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Leader",
    "slug": "the-leader",
    "url": "https://theleader.info/2026/10/24/ap-7-tunnel-at-pilar-reopens-in-both-directions-after-four-day-closure/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The AP-7 motorway has reopened in both directions through Pilar de la Horadada after a four-day closure due to flooding. The flood, caused by torrential rain associated with Storm DANA, forced the closure of the two tunnels on Monday evening. By Friday afternoon, traffic towards Alicante had resumed, while the Cartagena-bound lanes opened on Friday. The flood, which began around 11pm, left 13 people trapped in their vehicles. All 13 were rescued safely by the Civil Guard, Local Police, and Civil Protection. The floodwater reached up to chest height in some areas. An elderly driver required assistance to escape his car. The floodwater's force shifted several vehicles, with some blocking the road and others facing the opposite direction. The Cartagena-bound tunnel experienced the heaviest sediment buildup, delaying its reopening. Drainage concerns persist as the tunnels lie in a cutting where runoff from nearby urban areas and farmland can collect. A stormwater channel built after the September 2019 DANA storm proved ineffective this time. The Ministry of Transport had recently completed safety improvements on this stretch of the AP-7. Ausur, the motorway concessionaire, plans to further improve stormwater drainage in the tunnels.",
  "summary": "The AP-7 motorway has reopened in both directions through Pilar de la Horadada, four days after flooding forced the closure of its two tunnels and left 13 people trapped in their vehicles. The Cartagena-bound lanes reopened on Friday afternoon. Traffic towards Alicante had resumed on Wednesday, after almost 48 hours of cleaning, repairs and checks […] The post AP-7 tunnel at Pilar reopens in both…",
  "key_points": [
    "AP-7 motorway reopens in both directions through Pilar de la Horadada",
    "Four-day closure due to flooding from Storm DANA",
    "13 people rescued safely from trapped vehicles"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}