Bridge collapse on highway linking France and Italy kills at least 30

Bridge collapse on highway linking France and Italy kills at least 30

A Bridge in Genoa Italy has collapsed during a violent storm, killing at least 30 people as their cars plummeted down a 90-meter drop.

The bridge, which is situated on a main highway linking Italy and France, crumbled into a river on Tuesday morning local time, scattering its remains over an industrial zone, railroad tracks and buildings.

Fairfax reports up to 35 cars and at least three trucks were on the 80-meter area of the bridge during the time of its collapse.

Italian politicians are saying the incident highlighted “years of potential maintenance postponed or shelved” due to budget constraints.

The death toll is expected to rise as officials continue to search through the rubble for survivors. Firefighters have expressed concerns about gas lines exploding in the area of the collapse.

“We are still trying to extract survivors from the rubble,” Genoa police official Alessandra Bucci told the ABC.

“We hope to find more people alive.”

Some witnesses said the bridge was struck by lightning at the time of the collapse, according to the New York Times.

Another witness said he saw “cars and trucks plunging into the void”.

One man, who was standing in the area under the bridge, said he was sent flying more than ten meters into a wall.

“I was in front of the truck and flew away, like everything else,” he said, according to the ABC.

“Yes, I think it’s a miracle. I don’t know what to say. I’m out of words.”

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