Traffic in Valencia was severely disrupted after a fire broke out near the Saler motorway, close to the tunnel around the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències. The blaze, beside the Oceanogràfic and the Saler shopping centre, led authorities to close both directions of the V-15 because of heavy smoke and visible flames. Smoke quickly reduced visibility, making driving unsafe and prompting an immediate response from the Local Police.
Police halted road traffic and suspended tram operations in the affected area. The fire reportedly started on a vacant lot opposite the Oceanogràfic, in the area known as Camí Nou del Salinar, although its exact origin and cause have not been confirmed. Initial observations suggested the blaze may have ignited between the motorway’s two carriageways. Smoke then spread rapidly, reaching the Saler shopping centre, the Oceanogràfic and much of the Museo Príncipe Felipe.
Emergency services secured the perimeter as thick smoke threatened drivers and pedestrians. The disruption caused delays and forced many people to find alternative routes into and out of the city. The incident shows how vulnerable major transport infrastructure can be in an area where busy roads meet popular attractions and public-transport links.
The fire comes amid other fire-related emergencies in Spain. Large-scale wildfires have previously caused mass evacuations and widespread disruption, as when Madrid faced its most severe fire crisis in recent years. No evacuations were reported in connection with the Valencia fire.
A separate fire in the Devesa del Saler on August 27 and 28 led to evacuations in El Saler and nearby campsites. Investigators later concluded that this separate blaze was deliberately started. That finding concerns the Devesa del Saler incident, not the fire near the Oceanogràfic.
Valencia’s Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències and the Oceanogràfic are among the city’s most visited sites, drawing locals and tourists year-round. The V-15, also known as the Saler motorway, is a basic route for traffic entering and leaving the city centre, so disruption can quickly affect journeys and daily routines. The cause of the Oceanogràfic-area fire remains under investigation. Residents and visitors were advised to follow official updates as the investigation continued.
