A2 motorway blocked by truck fire carrying batteries

A semi-truck carrying several pallets of batteries caught fire on the A2 Südautobahn near Ilz in Styria during the early hours of August 21, 2026. The 52-year-old Slovakian driver reported that the vehicle's electronics failed before fire appeared in the dashboard area. Although the driver attempted to extinguish the flames with two fire extinguishers, the truck was fully engulfed within minutes.

Emergency services faced significant challenges due to the battery cargo, which required intensive firefighting efforts and subsequent reloading. The fire also damaged the vehicle's fuel tank, causing approximately 200 liters of diesel to leak; however, responders managed to contain the fuel, and no environmental hazard was reported.

The incident caused major traffic disruptions, including a total closure of the A2 in the direction of Vienna. While one lane was reopened around 5:30 AM, recovery and cleanup operations continued through the morning, with the right lane expected to remain closed until at least 9:00 AM. Police found no evidence of foul play.