NAPLES, Campania – A major incident on the A1 motorway yesterday evening, December 23, 2025, resulted in the closure of a significant stretch of the highway in both directions, causing severe traffic congestion, particularly for those heading towards Naples. The incident involved an LPG tanker that caught fire between the Caianello and Capua toll booths.
Motorway Closure and Emergency Response
Autostrade per l’Italia reported that the section between Caianello and Capua was temporarily closed shortly after 5:00 PM due to an accident at kilometer 709 in the direction of Naples. The collision involved two heavy vehicles, one of which was an LPG tanker that subsequently ignited. The incident occurred near the Teano service area.
Eyewitnesses in the vicinity reported hearing a loud explosion, intensifying concerns about the scale of the fire. Estimates from CasertaNews suggest that approximately 5,000 liters of LPG were burning at the scene.
Emergency services, including medical personnel, mechanical assistance, firefighters, highway police patrols, and staff from Autostrade per l’Italia’s 6th Trunk Directorate of Cassino, were immediately dispatched to the site.
Traffic Chaos and Diversion Routes
The closure of the motorway led to immediate and significant traffic disruptions. Within the closed section, traffic came to a standstill, with a reported 4-kilometer queue forming in the direction of Naples. Additionally, long queues were observed at the mandatory exit in San Vittore.
Motorists traveling from Rome towards Naples were advised to exit at Cassino, use ordinary road networks, and re-enter the motorway at the Santa Maria Capua Vetere toll booth. For those traveling from Naples towards Rome, the recommendation was to exit at Santa Maria Capua Vetere – where considerable queues for the mandatory exit were already present – use local roads, and rejoin the motorway at the Caianello toll booth.
The incident, occurring on the eve of Christmas Eve, is expected to cause prolonged delays and affect holiday travel plans for many commuters and travelers in the region.
Investigation into the Cause
Authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the collision and the subsequent fire. The focus will be on understanding the dynamics of the two heavy vehicles involved and how the LPG tanker ignited.
Further updates on the incident and the reopening of the motorway are anticipated as emergency teams continue their work at the scene.
