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| Version 13 | Version 14 |
|---|---|
| Seven dead as US bridge collapses | Seven dead as US bridge collapses |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Seven people have died after a freeway bridge over the Mississippi river collapsed in the evening rush hour. | Seven people have died after a freeway bridge over the Mississippi river collapsed in the evening rush hour. |
| At least 60 were injured when part of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis fell down at 1805 (2305 GMT) on Wednesday. | At least 60 were injured when part of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis fell down at 1805 (2305 GMT) on Wednesday. |
| Fire Chief Jim Clack told reporters seven died as the structure buckled, hurling up to 50 vehicles in the water. | Fire Chief Jim Clack told reporters seven died as the structure buckled, hurling up to 50 vehicles in the water. |
| The US Department of Homeland Security said there was no reason to suspect the fall of the bridge, which had been undergoing repairs, was terror-related. | The US Department of Homeland Security said there was no reason to suspect the fall of the bridge, which had been undergoing repairs, was terror-related. |
| Mr Clack said: "At this point we have seven confirmed fatalities, and we expect that number to go up." | Mr Clack said: "At this point we have seven confirmed fatalities, and we expect that number to go up." |
| He added that rescuers did not expect to find any more survivors. | He added that rescuers did not expect to find any more survivors. |
| 'Catastrophe' | 'Catastrophe' |
| The rescue operation was called off as night fell, because darkness made it too dangerous to search the water among mangled steel and submerged cars. | The rescue operation was called off as night fell, because darkness made it too dangerous to search the water among mangled steel and submerged cars. |
| Minneapolis mayor RT Rybak told a news conference: "It will be a very tragic night when it is over." | Minneapolis mayor RT Rybak told a news conference: "It will be a very tragic night when it is over." |
| First I heard this huge roar. I thought: 'Wow was that an airplane?' Local resident, Leone Carstens Shock as bridge falls href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6927178.stm">In pictures: Bridge collapse | |
| Traffic had been "bumper-to-bumper" at the time of the incident as only one lane was open in either direction on the eight-lane road because of the construction work on the arched bridge. | Traffic had been "bumper-to-bumper" at the time of the incident as only one lane was open in either direction on the eight-lane road because of the construction work on the arched bridge. |
| Tim Pawlenty, governor of Minnesota, told a press conference: "Obviously this is a catastrophe of historic proportions." | Tim Pawlenty, governor of Minnesota, told a press conference: "Obviously this is a catastrophe of historic proportions." |
| He added that the 40-year-old bridge was last inspected in 2006 and no significant structural problems were found. | He added that the 40-year-old bridge was last inspected in 2006 and no significant structural problems were found. |
| Minneapolis police chief Tim Dolan said officials had accounted for all but one of the construction workers who had been on the bridge at the time of the collapse. | Minneapolis police chief Tim Dolan said officials had accounted for all but one of the construction workers who had been on the bridge at the time of the collapse. |
| Tons of concrete crashed 64 feet (20 metres) into the water as the interstate bridge crumbled. | Tons of concrete crashed 64 feet (20 metres) into the water as the interstate bridge crumbled. |
| A freight train passing underneath was crushed as a 500ft (150m) span of steel and concrete collapsed. | A freight train passing underneath was crushed as a 500ft (150m) span of steel and concrete collapsed. |
| 'Huge roar' | 'Huge roar' |
| Some 60 children were led to safety with only minor injuries from a school bus that clung to the edge of a collapsed section of the structure over the river. | Some 60 children were led to safety with only minor injuries from a school bus that clung to the edge of a collapsed section of the structure over the river. |
| Eyewitnesses said they heard a rumbling sound as the structure fell into the river. | Eyewitnesses said they heard a rumbling sound as the structure fell into the river. |
| Injured people waited for rescue as vehicles dangled off the crumpled concrete and smoke billowed into the sky from the fiery wreckage of a lorry. | Injured people waited for rescue as vehicles dangled off the crumpled concrete and smoke billowed into the sky from the fiery wreckage of a lorry. |
| Leone Carstens, a local resident, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper: "First I heard this huge roar. | Leone Carstens, a local resident, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper: "First I heard this huge roar. |
| "I was at my computer. Initially I thought: 'Wow was that an airplane?'" | "I was at my computer. Initially I thought: 'Wow was that an airplane?'" |
| Divers and rescue boats scoured the water for survivors but the operation had to be called off as night fell because of the amount of debris in the water. | Divers and rescue boats scoured the water for survivors but the operation had to be called off as night fell because of the amount of debris in the water. |
| Chris O'Connell, a Minneapolis reporter, told the BBC: "To call this a catastrophe would be an understatement." | Chris O'Connell, a Minneapolis reporter, told the BBC: "To call this a catastrophe would be an understatement." |
| Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, told AFP news agency: "There are no indications of a nexus to terrorism at this time." | Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, told AFP news agency: "There are no indications of a nexus to terrorism at this time." |
| Are you in Minneapolis? Have you seen the collapsed bridge? Use the form below to send us your eyewitness accounts. | Are you in Minneapolis? Have you seen the collapsed bridge? Use the form below to send us your eyewitness accounts. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial 61124. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial 61124. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
| Name | Name |