Tourists Rescued After Ignoring Snow-Barricaded Envalira Pass Closure
Police and road crews escorted stranded foreign tourists from a stuck vehicle on Andorra's closed Envalira pass early morning amid heavy snow and.
Key Points
- Incident at 1am: Foreign car ignored Envalira pass closure, drove past snow barrier toward Pas de la Casa.
- Vehicle stuck in heavy snow; poor condition contributed.
- COEX workers and police rescued group, escorted to border village.
- Tourists warned sternly; pass reopened later, no fine details reported.
Police and road maintenance crews escorted tourists early this morning after their vehicle became stuck on the closed Envalira pass, despite barriers in place due to poor weather.
The incident unfolded shortly after 1am, eyewitnesses reported, when occupants of a foreign-registered car—staying at a well-known hotel near the summit—ignored the closure and drove downhill toward Pas de la Casa. Heavy snow and strong winds had forced authorities to shut the road, with the COEX (Consell d'Exportació d'Equipaments Especials) erecting a snow barrier to prevent access.
The vehicle, in poor condition, got trapped beyond the barrier. COEX workers and a police unit intervened to rescue the group, escorting them to their destination in the border village. They spent the rest of the night there and could not return to the hotel until the pass reopened later.
Eyewitnesses described the tourists receiving stern warnings during the operation. No further details have emerged on their return journey or any potential fines. The episode highlights ongoing challenges with winter road closures on Andorra's high mountain passes.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: