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A freeway bridge over the Mississippi river has collapsed during the evening rush hour, sending cars into the water.
An entire span of the four-lane I-35W bridge in the city of Minneapolis fell into the river at 1805 (2305GMT).
Injuries are reported, and some people are stranded on parts of the bridge which have not collapsed.
Trucks and a school bus are also reported to have fallen into the river, and a lorry is reported to be on fire at the scene.
Tons of concrete crashed into the water after the interstate bridge, which is thought to be 40 years old, crumbled.
'Huge roar'
Television news pictures showed boats searching for injured people and cars stranded on large chunks of concrete in the water.
Eyewitnesses said they heard a rumbling sound as the bridge collapsed into the river.
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?'"
Rescuers carried survivors up the riverbank, while eyewitnesses said they saw people in the water.
A nursing supervisor at Hennepin County Medical Center told local WCCO radio: "We have multiple patients. Some critical, some non-critical."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.u...cas/6927113.stm
Published: 2007/08/02 00:23:23 GMT
© BBC MMVII
An entire span of the four-lane I-35W bridge in the city of Minneapolis fell into the river at 1805 (2305GMT).
Injuries are reported, and some people are stranded on parts of the bridge which have not collapsed.
Trucks and a school bus are also reported to have fallen into the river, and a lorry is reported to be on fire at the scene.
Tons of concrete crashed into the water after the interstate bridge, which is thought to be 40 years old, crumbled.
'Huge roar'
Television news pictures showed boats searching for injured people and cars stranded on large chunks of concrete in the water.
Eyewitnesses said they heard a rumbling sound as the bridge collapsed into the river.
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?'"
Rescuers carried survivors up the riverbank, while eyewitnesses said they saw people in the water.
A nursing supervisor at Hennepin County Medical Center told local WCCO radio: "We have multiple patients. Some critical, some non-critical."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.u...cas/6927113.stm
Published: 2007/08/02 00:23:23 GMT
© BBC MMVII
