This morning, Friday May 9th, at kilometre 272, a lorry and a car collided within the AP-7 tunnel in Pilar de la Horadada, towards Cartagena. As the lorry entered the tunnel, one of its wheels is said to have punctured. The driver’s loss of control caused the vehicle to overturn and ignite. The accident resulted in the driver’s death.

The remaining tunnel is being cleared by firefighters and medical personnel; however, no additional casualties have been confirmed. The Alicante-Cartagena highway is currently experiencing significant traffic congestion.

After 9:30 a.m., residents were informed by a multitude of sirens.

The Ministry of Transport’s ongoing lighting change is also coincidental with the accident, despite the fact that, according to numerous witnesses, the workmen were not in the tunnel when the vehicles collided.

This tunnel, which is 800 meters in length and has an average daily traffic of 19,000 vehicles, is not particularly hazardous; however, it has been the site of numerous accidents. A van caught fire at the same location in January of the previous year, necessitating the closure of traffic.

A significant fire outbreak has been documented in the southbound tunnel of the AP7 at Pilar de la Horadada, as evidenced by the emergence of video footage.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown; however, it appears that the tunnel is currently closed to traffic in both directions.

The tunnel is presently enduring a substantial modernisation project with the objective of enhancing energy efficiency and ensuring safety. The tunnel’s lighting system is presently undergoing upgrades; however, it is uncertain whether this is related to the closure.

The fire has generated a significant quantity of smoke, which has accumulated within the tunnel and is a threat to motorists. This smoke is visible from a distance. Consequently, the culvert was closed by the authorities to guarantee safety. The tunnel’s ventilation systems have been activated to dispel the haze, and fire crews are currently present.

The 700th anniversary of the establishment of Benidorm as a municipality with its own legal entity will be commemorated in history on a stamp issued by Correos, marking the beginning of a new philatelic series known as “New Cities.” The stamp is intended to commemorate the emergence of various Spanish cities during the Middle Ages. Mayor Toni Pérez and the Director of Philately and Institutional Relations at Correos, Nuria Lera, presented the stamp today, the 700th anniversary of the signing of the Carta de Poblament (Town Charter). They underscored that this issue is a mutual tribute to the historical legacy of the city and the postal company.

The mayor emphasised that “stamps are a very representative element and part of our historical memory as a town,” and stated that the process to get here has been a lengthy one. Consequently, he expressed his gratitude to Correos for selecting Benidorm as the site of the philatelic series’ inception.

The mayor elucidated that the endeavour to immortalise Benidorm’s 700 centuries of history on a stamp commenced in 2023 and that “the efforts of José Ivars,” president of the Federation of Philatelic Associations of the Valencian Community and the Philatelic and Numismatic Association of Calp, as well as a member of the Royal Hispanic Academy of Philately and Postal History, have been crucially important.”

In addition to “unifying Benidorm’s 700 years of history with the 175th anniversary of the first Spanish stamp being put into circulation,” Toni Pérez stated that “Benidorm is now part of Coreos’ history.” In his opinion, this stamp also serves as “a tribute to the cultural legacy that lives on, especially through collectors, and to the history of communications in our country.”

The Mayor of Benidorm concluded by advocating for the resurgence of the tradition of writing letters, purchasing stamps, and posting them in the mailbox as a tribute to the ‘700th Anniversary’ and our history. He also paid tribute to Emilio Ortuño y Berte (1862-1936), a Benidorm native who was appointed Director General of the Post Office in 1908 before becoming Minister of Public Works during the reign of Alfonso XIII.

Nuria Lera, the Director of Philately and Institutional Relations at Correos, expressed her gratitude to Benidorm for its support and enthusiasm for this project. She noted that “it is not an everyday occurrence for a stamp from a major city like Benidorm to be presented, much less on the same day and in the same location as the event. Consequently, we are doubly appreciative today.”

Correos also expressed that it is “an honour and a source of pride” to be a part of this day. She also recalled that Benidorm has undergone numerous transformations over the course of these seven centuries to become the beacon of modernity it is today. The Director of Philately and Institutional Relations enquired, “Who hasn’t been to Benidorm at some point?” He also lauded some of the city’s virtues and contended that the presentation of this stamp “should not only be a look back at the past, but an opportunity to look to the present and the future.”

Some information regarding the stamp

Benidorm is the highlight of this special issue, as depicted in a photograph of the city taken from El Castell towards the Poniente area. The image also includes a portion of the municipality’s skyline, thereby combining the old and the new in a single image. This is the first Benidorm, home to some of the city’s most famous skyscrapers. The legend “700th Anniversary of the Founding of Benidorm,” the official “700th Anniversary” logo, and the Benidorm coat of arms are the final elements that comprise the 72,000 stamps created by the postal company. Since April 24th, they have been available for purchase at a cost of €1.85, which is equivalent to the postage for a standard letter or postcard weighing up to 20 grammes and addressed to Europe.

The ‘700th Anniversary’ stamp features a unique format, as it is displayed in conjunction with another stamp that is equally significant: the 750th Anniversary of the constitution of the city of Vila-Real, Castellón. The latter is depicted with an image of King Jaume I, the municipality’s founder, holding his Carta Pobla of February 20, 1274.

Seven centuries of history

Today, May 8, 2025, commemorates the 700th anniversary of Admiral Bernat de Sarrià’s donation of the Carta de Poblament to Benidorm. The document was delivered in Valencia before the notary Joan Cerdà. The boundaries of the municipality, as well as the rights and responsibilities of the new settlers, were established by this legal document. These settlers settled on Punta Canfali, the same location where El Castell once stood, which has since been transformed into one of the most iconic and photographed viewpoints in the entire Mediterranean.

The Carta de Poblament can be regarded as the municipality’s birth certificate, despite the archaeological remains that confirm the presence of previous settlements in the territory that currently occupies the city, the most notable of which is the Roman Castellum of Tossal de La Cala.
The city has experienced a variety of events and vicissitudes over the course of seven centuries, culminating in its status as a globally recognised, distinctive, and prominent tourist destination. Benidorm was once renowned for the expertise of its mariners and the skill of its tuna fishermen, despite the fact that its name is now synonymous with tourism. The most coveted tuna fishermen and second-in-command in the Mediterranean and Atlantic were natives of Benidorm, who piloted the most prominent vessels of the Merchant Navy and held all grades of command and crew.

Benidorm became a significant destination in the democratisation of vacations during the mid-20th century because it made a firm commitment to tourism. It has since reinvented itself to remain at the vanguard of tourism, which is now digital, technological, and sustainable.

Benidorm currently maintains over 60% of its territory as protected and has one of the most efficient potable water networks in the world. In the same year that it commemorates the 700th anniversary of its foundation, the European Community has designated it as a “Green Pioneer for Smart Tourism” destination, a designation that is the result of policies that prioritise sustainability and accessibility.