’Apocalyptic scene’ as bridge collapses
Sniffer dogs comb rubble for survivors after cars plummet
UP to 35 people, including a young child, were feared dead last night after a motorway bridge collapsed in northern Italy.
The death toll is predicted to rise as rescuers search for survivors among the rubble following the “immense tragedy”.
Around 90m of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa – including a support tower – collapsed at around 11.30am local time during torrential rainfall.
Witnesses reported an “apocalyptic scene” as 35 cars and up to 10 lorries plunged nearly 50m, along with tonnes of twisted steel and concrete, onto warehouses below.
Incredibly four people were pulled alive from cars found in the mangled ruins and transported to hospital by helicopter. Officials said at least 16 people were injured, five seriously.
Last night efforts to find more victims continued as sniffer dogs sifted through the rubble.
The exact cause remained unclear last night, though several witnesses said the bridge was hit by a bolt of lightning seconds before it crumbled.
According to local reports, authorities believe a structural weakness was behind the collapse.
Residents said they had “always had concerns” about its safety, with one telling the BBC: “Nobody has ever crossed that bridge with a light heart.
“Everybody has always done it praying that the bridge wouldn’t fall down. Today that happened.”
Italy’s anti-establishment government said the disaster showed Italy needed to spend more to improve its dilapidated infrastructure – ignoring EU budget constraints if necessary. They warned that “those responsible will have to pay”.
The bridge crumbled over a river, railway tracks and industrial buildings. Train services were cancelled, and around 300 firefighters attended the scene amid concerns damaged gas lines could explode.
Dramatic photos showed vehicles stranded on either side of the collapsed section. A green lorry was perilously near the gaping hole, having stopped just in time.
One driver told how he survived despite his car plummeting into the rubble. Former goalkeeper Davide Capello, who played for Sardinian side Cagliari, told news channel Sky TG24: “I was driving along and at a certain point I saw the road in front of me collapse, and I went down with the car.”
The road connects Italy to France and leads to tourist hotspots including Milan.