Italian bridge toll hits 39; state of emergency declared
ROME— Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte declared a state of emergency in the city of Genoa on Wednesday after at least 39 people died in the collapse of a motorway bridge, with more than 600 left homeless by the disaster.
Conte declared the 12-month state of emergency after a cabinet meeting in the northwestern port city.
He gave the official death toll as 39 and earmarked 5 million euros ($7.45 million Cdn) for urgent relief efforts, promising to appoint a commissioner to help rebuild the affected area.
Conte, who overnight said he experienced “the longest and most difficult day as prime minister,” also said 16 people were injured, including nine in a critical state.
The Morandi bridge foundered Tuesday, one day before a national holiday, during a thunderstorm, sending 30 to 35 cars and three trucks crashing to the ground from a height of nearly 150 feet.
About 630 people were told to leave nearby homes because remaining parts of the bridge might collapse over them, authorities said, adding that the homes will probably have to be knocked down.
About 1,000 rescue workers were taking turns in nonstop efforts to extract bodies and possible survivors from the rubble, also using sniffer dogs.
Three children ages eight, 12 and 13, as well as several foreigners — four from France, two from Albania, one from Romania, one from Chile — were named among the casualties.
The Morandi was a key artery for Genoa, connecting motorways heading west to the French border and northeast to Milan. Its collapse was expected to cause major congestion problems.
The reinforced concrete structure was seen as innovative when inaugurated in 1967, but it has been in need of constant repairs. It was due this year for a makeover of its concrete beams, suspected to have broken and caused the disaster.