2 days ago
New pictures show the massive damage to tunnel after crane fire
New pictures show the massive damage to tunnel after crane fire
Images show the charred lorry, the damaged tunnel and fire crews on the scene of the A55 between Conwy and Llandudno Junction
The charred wreckage of a lorry engulfed in flames in the Conwy Tunnel on Thursday
(Image: North Wales Fire and Rescue Service )
Shocking new images have emerged showing the aftermath of a lorry blaze that caused chaos in the Conwy Tunnel this week. Thousands of motorists and passengers were stranded for hours in the heat after the fire broke out just before 2pm on Thursday.
The photographs were released by North Wales Fire and Rescue Service (NWFRS) to reveal the extent of the damage to the lorry and the tunnel itself, following the incident on the A55 between Conwy and Llandudno Junction.
The Welsh Government has issued a warning that further shutdowns of the tunnel may be necessary over the next few weeks.
In response to the "significant crane lorry fire" in the westbound Conwy Tunnel on the A55, which led to substantial delays and a complex emergency operation, NWFRS stated that teams from various agencies in North Wales responded "swiftly and professionally".
Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, has since expressed his gratitude to the emergency services and others involved for their "swift and coordinated" efforts, reports North Wales Live.
Firefighters were called to a lorry fire in the Conwy Tunnel on Thursday afternoon
(Image: North Wales Fire and Rescue Service )
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The fire service was called to the scene at 1.48pm on Thursday, and they implemented the Operational Tactical Plan, which is based on collaborative emergency drills with other local agencies.
At just before 3pm, NWFRS declared a major incident. At the peak of the emergency, ten fire engines, four specialist vehicles, a welfare unit, and eight officers were present at the scene.
The firefighters faced "intense heat and difficult tunnel conditions" but managed to extinguish the blaze by 4.20pm, around two hours and 20 minutes after it started, with no injuries reported.
NWFRS confirmed that their teams stayed on site into the evening alongside the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent, structural engineers, and others to carry out essential safety checks. Due to the efforts of NWFRS, the eastbound tunnel was able to reopen under contraflow in the early hours of Friday morning.
Mike Plant, head of planning, performance and transformation for NWFRS, praised the response: "The response to this incident was an outstanding demonstration of professionalism, resilience, and teamwork."
He commended the swift and effective action of the crews, officers, and control staff, which he said played a crucial role in preventing the situation from worsening.
Plant expressed his gratitude towards the NWFRS team and partners, highlighting the significance of collaboration. Today, Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, extended his thanks to the emergency services and others for their "swift and coordinated" response, noting that many had recently practised for such scenarios in an exercise.
Firefighters were called to a lorry fire in the Conwy Tunnel on Thursday afternoon
(Image: North Wales Fire and Rescue Service )
Mr Skates said: "A resilience planning exercise held a few months ago on the A55 at Conwy Tunnel between Welsh Government, NMWTRA, NW fire and rescue service and other emergency service looked at this scenario and has paid off as it was implemented yesterday to help minimise damage. The close working with our partners continues, with multi-agency meetings taking place as we deal with the aftermath of the incident."
He expressed gratitude to the public for their "patience and understanding" during the disruption, acknowledging that "We fully recognise the significant impact that incidents like this can have on communities, businesses, and individuals across Wales."
Mr Skates explained that the tunnel's closure was necessary for safety reasons, and although a diversion was in place, it would have increased journey times and caused disruption. He added: "I am pleased, thanks to the tireless efforts of all involved, the tunnel has partially reopened this morning. Traffic is now flowing through the unaffected bore under contraflow arrangements."
He concluded: "Repair works are already being planned, and our teams are working relentlessly to assess the damage and restore the tunnel to allow it to reopen as soon as it is safe to do so. I will be visiting the tunnels this weekend, but want to be clear, this phase will take time.
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"We will provide more information as the assessments progress. Further tunnel closures or traffic management measures may be necessary in the coming weeks for the recovery phase and allow more permanent repairs to take place."
He also advised individuals to carry additional food and water.
