The N-121 Highway becomes a practical obstacle in the storm-bound pursuit: a landslide in the Belate tunnel has closed the road, potentially costing the fugitives time and helping the police close the gap.

Setting and Closure

Inspector Iriarte reports that heavy rain has caused a landslide in the Belate tunnel, leaving the N-121 Highway impassable. The closure comes amid worsening conditions in the valley: the Baztán River overflowed the previous day and is rising again, while storm damage has also disrupted electricity across more than half the area.

Role in the Pursuit

Iriarte reasons that if the people being pursued reached the closure and had to turn back to take the NA-1210, they would lose considerable time; he also reports significant traffic congestion on that alternative route. The detour is presented as a possibility, not a confirmed account of their movements. Even so, the blocked highway briefly turns the storm-damaged landscape into a potential advantage for the police.