SWITZERLAND: GOTTHARD TUNNEL TURNS INTO DEATH TRAP AFTER TRUCKS COLLIDE AND START INFERNO

Record ID: 975104

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: GOTTHARD TUNNEL TURNS INTO DEATH TRAP AFTER TRUCKS COLLIDE AND START INFERNO
  • Date: 26th October 2001
  • Summary: (W8)GOESCHENEN, SWITZERLAND (OCTOBER 24, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. SLV ROAD SIGNALS IN FRONT OF NORTHERN ENTRANCE OF TUNNEL (3 SHOTS) 0.23 2. MV INFORMATION CHIEF OFFICER FOR CANTON URI ADRIAN ZURFLUH TALKING 0.28 3. (SOUNDBITE) (Swiss German) ADRIAN ZURFLUH SAYING "After the Mont Blanc catastrophe, there were a lot of studies done and everything was well examined. This tunnel got very good ratings and we did a lot to make it safe but we had to expect that some day something like this will happen." 1.00 (U5) OVER GOTTHARD TUNNEL, SWITZERLAND (OCTOBER 24, 2001) (TV24 - NO ACCESS SWITZERLAND) 4. AERIAL OF SMOKE FROM TUNNEL VENT (3 SHOTS) 2.23 (W6)(FILE - OCTOBER 24, 2001) (REUTERS) 5. SCU MAP OF TUNNEL AND SURROUNDING LOCATIONS 2.33 (W7) AIROLO, SWITZERLAND (OCTOBER 24, 2001) (REUTERS) 6. SLV TUNNEL AMIDST MOUNTAINS WITH BLACK SMOKE ABOVE; SOUTHERN END OF TUNNEL WITH BLACK SMOKE BILLOWING OUT; CONTROL CENTRE FOR TUNNEL WHERE ALARM WAS RAISED (6 SHOTS) 3.13 7. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) DIRECTOR OF GOTTHARD TUNNEL, MARIO GALIARDI SAYING "The situation at the moment is that the fire is still burning over a relatively short distance of between 70-100 metres. We absolutely are unable to know more because it is still not possible to get to where the fire is burning, we have to wait until the fire is put out or it dies down by itself. The types of temperature reached with fires like this is normally about 1100 degrees and at the moment we are saying there are 10 dead but this is just an approximate number." 8. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) DOCTOR BEPPE SAVARY WHO ENTERED THE TUNNEL WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES SAYING: "Every 250 metres there is an exit for the safety escape tunnel and it is from these that those who managed to escape got out. I saw one dead body which reminded me of pictures I have seen of those who died in Pompeii." 4.02 8. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) DOCTOR BEPPE SAVARY WHO ENTERED THE TUNNEL WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES SAYING "Every 250 metres there is an exit for the safety escape tunnel and it is from these that those who managed to escape got out. I saw one dead body which reminded me of pictures I have seen of those who died in Pompeii." 4.23 9. SLV SOUTHERN END OF GOTTHARD TUNNEL WITH SMOKE POURING OUT (3 SHOTS) 4.36 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 9th November 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Access Restrictions:This media cannot be downloaded as there may be copyright restrictions. Please contact us for more information
  • Location: AIROLO, GOESCHENEN, SWITZERLAND
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Reuters ID: LVA7VC9UM4S64I7M7OJDDS6X69UB
  • Story Text:
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS - SOURCE TO BE VERIFIED
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register