Italy bridge collapse: Dozens dead after Genoa motorway bridge caves in
At least 35 people were reported dead after a major motorway bridge collapsed near the Italian city of Genoa. Reports state that the bridge collapse led to several vehicles falling some 328ft into the water below.
There are "dozens" suspected to be dead in the accident, the head of the local ambulance service was quoted as saying by the BBC.
The Italian Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said that the incident was likely to be "an immense tragedy." Local police officials so far have said that at least 35 people have been confirmed dead in the incident, according to reports. The officials have reportedly linked the tragedy to a violent cloudburst. The exact cause of the collapse has not yet been ascertained.
A clip of the tragic incident shared on social media by witnesses showed one of the towers holding up the suspension bridge collapsing in the stormy weather.
Officials, while talking to AFP, said that the collapsed section of the bridge had mostly fallen onto rail tracks below the bridge. The officials also added that multiple vehicles, including cars and trucks, which were on the bridge at the time of the incident, also fell down.
The regional emergency services posted an image of the incident on social media, which showed a truck at the end of the surviving bridge section, just moments before the drop. The officials have said that rescue services are currently operating at the scene to spot and rescue survivors and victims.
The collapsed structure, which is known as the Morandi bridge, was built in the 1960s and stands on the A10 toll motorway. Reports state that the missing section of the structure was dozens of metres in length and ran across the span of the Polcevera stream.
The collapsed reportedly occurred shortly before noon local time (10:00 GMT) during heavy rain and the local Italian newspaper, La Republica, described that particular part of the city as "densely inhabitated."
The number of deaths is expected to rise, according to the officials.