Search is called off in bridge tragedy

THE search for people missing in the Italian bridge tragedy officially ended yesterday after the last three bodies were found, bringing the death toll to 43.

A 600ft section of the Morandi motorway bridge in Genoa gave way in busy traffic last Tuesday, plunging about 40 vehicles, along with concrete and metal, 150ft to the ground.

Nine people are still in hospital. Four remain in a critical condition.

All those listed as missing have now been accounted for.

Stefano Zanut, a fire brigade official, said workers were making the site secure and helping with the investigation to establish the cause of the disaster in the port city, which is the capital of the north-west Liguria region.

Booed

The bridge was part of the A10 motorway that links Genoa with the French border to the west and was managed by toll-road operator Autostrade per l’Italia, part of the infrastructure group Atlantia.

About 3,000 people attended the state funeral of 18 victims on Saturday.

Politicians who were there were booed as public anger rises over the tragedy.

The same day Autostrade pledged £449million to rebuild the bridge and set up funds for the families of the victims and those who have been displaced from their homes by the collapse and reconstruction work.

Last week prime minister Giuseppe Conte said that Autostrade faced losing its contract.