Last Saturday, at 12:26hr in the Mont Blanc Tunnel, traffic was suspended in both directions. This was due to the rupture of the turbo compressor of an Italian lorry causing an oil cloud, that then triggered the automatic detection system in the tunnel control room. The vehicle was travelling from France towards Italy, and broke-down 4.5 km from the French entrance. 52 people in the tunnel at the time were requested to move into the emergency shelters in the tunnel. At 13:15hr, they were allowed to leave the shelter & make their way back to their vehicles, and continue on their way. At 14:00hrs, after the broken-down lorry was towed away, the tunnel was again opened to traffic.
