Alpine tunnel closed due to pollution

LYON, France (AFP) Sep 26, 2003
The Mont Blanc road tunnel that links France and Italy under the Alps was closed late Thursday for an undetermined period due to pollution, according to France's traffic information service, the CRIC.

Three firefighters who work at the tunnel were admitted to hospital suffering from carbon dioxide poisoning, police and fire services said.

The tunnel was closed at 9:37 pm (1937 GMT) in both directions, CRIC said. It said firefighters were looking for the cause of the pollution.

On March 24, 1999, a fire caused by a truck in the tunnel killed 39 people.

TERRA.WIRE