|
Mississippi bridge collapses
|
| Print |
|
E-mail
|
|
Global
|
|
By Agencies
|
![The 40-year-old bridge was undergoing repairs at the time of the accident [EPA]](http://mwcnews.net/images/stories/USA2/9/Bridge.jpg "The 40-year-old bridge was undergoing repairs at the time of the accident [EPA]") | | The 40-year-old bridge was undergoing repairs at the time of the accident [EPA] |
At least six people have been confirmed dead after a highway bridge over the Mississippi river collapsed during the evening rush hour on Wednesday.
The US government said there were no signs of it being an attack.
Vehicles, concrete and twisted metal went crashing into the water when the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed.
Children in a school bus had a narrow escape when they scrambled out the back door as the bus hung precariously to one slanted concrete slab near a burning truck before the vehicles plunged into the river.
Minnesota's mayor, RT Rybak, said that six people were dead. Health workers in nearby hospitals reported scores of injured.
The bridge, a major road into Minneapolis, was under repair work when it broke into several huge sections.
A 150-metre span of the eight-lane steel and concrete bridge buckled and fell into the river and on to concrete embankments about 20 metres below.
Dozens of rescue vehicles rushed to the scene, and rescue divers were already in the water. No terror link
Russ Knocke, a department of homeland security spokesperson, said there were "no indications of a nexus to terrorism at this time".
"We continue to monitor the situation. State and local officials have the lead in rescue and response efforts," he told AFP.
Television footage showed dozens of vehicles scattered and stacked on top of each other amid the rubble.
Some people were stranded on parts of the bridge that were not completely in the water.
Local stations also captured video of injured people being carried up the riverbank.
Gregory Wernick drove over the bridge shortly before the collapse, saved by his decision to stop for a drink nearby. He went back after hearing the commotion.
"I figure I crossed about 10 minutes before it happened," he said. "That's just too close to call. I've never seen anything like this."
Recommend this article...
Tags: Mississippi bridge
|
Technorati Profile
