COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Sea water leaked dangerously into an undersea tunnel in western Norway on Wednesday after a fuel truck crashed into the tunnel’s side, triggering a series of explosions. The leaks prompted fears the tunnel could collapse, police said.
The accident and subsequent explosions took place around 11 a.m. in the nearly 2-kilometer (1.2-mile) Skatestraum tunnel, which links two islands in the Sogn og Fjordane region north of the city of Bergen.
Truck driver Tore Myrestrand told the Firda newspaper he had problems with the brakes in the deepest part of the tunnel, which is 91 meters (299 feet) below sea level. After the crash, he said he escaped from the truck and grabbed an emergency phone in the tunnel.
Authorities immediately closed the tunnel to everyone except firefighters. Thick black smoke billowed out of the tunnel after the explosions and a subsequent fire caused by the tanker, which had detached from the truck.
