Swiss tunnel rescuers battle to reach victims

Rescue workers were today hoping to reach the fire scene in Switzerland's Gotthard Tunnel as the number of people listed missing…

Rescue workers were today hoping to reach the fire scene in Switzerland's Gotthard Tunnel as the number of people listed missing rose to 128.

Smoke billows from an exhaust exit of the Gotthard Tunnel.

Firefighters have managed to control the fierce blaze, caused when two lorries collided in the 10.6-mile tunnel in the Alps on Wednesday. They hope to reach the final 250-metre stretch of the road early today.

Eleven people have been confirmed dead, and it is feared more have been incinerated. It is believed between 20 and 30 vehicles were trapped when the roof of the tunnel collapsed in the fire.

Some 128 people have been reported missing by family and friends, but officials say most people probably escaped from the crash.

Four of the known dead are German. Switzerland, Luxembourg, Italy and France each counted one victim. The nationalities of the three others is not yet known.

PA

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