Broadcast on March 20 at 11:15 p.m. on France 3
March 24, 1999, 10:54 a.m.: a Belgian truck driver rushes into the Mont-Blanc tunnel, but very quickly, cars flash his headlights. He looks in his rear view mirror: his cargo of margarine and flour has caught fire. Within minutes, the fire grew out of control and killed 39 people. How might such a tragedy happen? To find out, France 2 conducted the investigation, with the testimonies of those close to the case and the families of the victims. A complete overview of the question, on both sides of the Alpine border, which shows multiple dysfunctions (lack of protocol and first-aid post, unsuitable equipment, lack of coordination between French and Italian authorities, etc.). The show also follows the ensuing trial, and for good reason: it served as a template for a whole host of other major lawsuits. The drama finally served to reform the management of tunnels across the continent. A conclusion that justifies the interest of this documentary, at a time when the vigilance born with this tragedy tends to fade.
