The AP-7 motorway in Catalonia has experienced at least 18 lorry fires between March 2021 and May 2026, transforming the stretch between Tarragona and Barcelona into a high-risk area. One driver died in L'Aldea in 2025 following a vehicle fire.
Since the removal of tolls in September 2021, heavy vehicle traffic on the AP-7 has increased significantly. This rise in traffic has coincided with a steady pattern of accidents and fires involving articulated lorries over the past few years.
Incidents Concentrated in Tarragona Province
The province of Tarragona accounts for a large number of these incidents. The first documented fire occurred on 31 March 2021, when a lorry carrying oranges caught fire in Tarragona. Subsequent fires have been reported in municipalities such as L’Hospitalet de l’Infant, L’Ampolla, L’Aldea, Mont-roig del Camp, Cambrils, and El Vendrell.
One of the most severe cases took place in L’Aldea, in the Baix Ebre region, in October 2025. A lorry driver died trapped in the cab after their vehicle caught fire following an accident on the AP-7. This incident led to the closure of the motorway and caused significant traffic jams.
Five lorry fires have already been recorded on the Catalan section of the motorway in 2026. Two of these happened within a fortnight in El Vendrell. A refrigerated lorry carrying fruit and another articulated vehicle transporting garlic were both destroyed by fire, causing long traffic delays and damage to the road surface.
Other notable incidents include a tanker carrying diesel catching fire in Riudellots de la Selva in 2025. In May 2026, an accident between two lorries in Castellet i la Gornal, one of which was loaded with aerosols, required the activation of the Transcat plan for dangerous goods.
These events have resulted in full closures of the AP-7, kilometres of traffic queues, and large deployments of firefighters, Mossos d’Esquadra, and emergency services. Transport unions and various reports have consistently warned about the increased traffic pressure on this infrastructure since the elimination of tolls.
