A truck caught fire in Hamburg's Elbtunnel on Thursday morning, causing significant traffic disruptions on the A7 highway.

The blaze, reported at 10:20 AM in the tunnel's fourth tube, was extinguished by 10:50 AM.

While no injuries were reported, the incident led to a full closure of the tunnel, resulting in traffic jams stretching up to 11 kilometers.

By early afternoon, three of the four tunnel tubes were reopened to traffic in both directions.

However, the fourth tube remains closed for damage assessment and vehicle removal.

Police warn that traffic flow may take time to normalize, with congestion affecting surrounding areas including Hamburg's city center.