At least ten people were killed when two trucks collided and burst into flames in the St Gotthard tunnel under the Swiss Alps today.
The death toll could riuse to over 20, local police said, following the crash in the main north-south road link through the Alps in southeastern Switzerland.
Several people were killed by poison gases in their cars, while six people were treated for smoke inhalation in hospital, officials say.
Police said earlier that they feared part of the tunnel ceiling may have collapsed in the accident, adding that fire was raging in a 300-metre section of the tunnel.
They said thick smoke had hampered efforts to tackle the blaze. One of the trucks was carrying tyres.
About 150 rescue workers were rushed to the scene near Airolo on the southern end of the tunnel, which is part of the main north-south motorway link through the Swiss Alps.
The 16.5-kilometre long St Gotthard tunnel is one of the longest road tunnels in the world and part of the busiest motorway link in Switzerland which carries heavy goods traffic travelling between Germany and Italy.
The tunnel is generally rated as safe according to Swiss authorities.
AFP