WATCH | Motorway bridge collapses in Italy, 'dozens' feared dead
A motorway bridge collapsed on Tuesday over the northern Italian port city of Genoa in what the transport minister said was likely to be "an immense tragedy".
The head of the local ambulance service said there were "dozens of dead", Italian news agency Adnkronos reported.
A video which emerged on social media appears to show the moment the bridge collapsed:
The local fire brigade said also victims were likely after the bridge collapsed at around 11.30am during torrential rainfall.
An ambulance official could only confirm two injured people so far, "but we suppose there are unfortunately a lot of dead."
#Breaking #Italy
— Mr. Revinsky (@MrKyruer) August 14, 2018
Incredible pic from the edge of the collapsed bridge (#PonteMorandi) in #Genova.
According to Genova's Hospital's Director: " this is a massacre". pic.twitter.com/plSu4E9rmS
#14agosto #Genova #crollo #PonteMorandi Polcevera Morandi @VAIstradeanas @DPCgov @emergenzavvf @Viminale @ComunediGenova @StradeAnas @112_ITALIA pic.twitter.com/SHJpMngAqD
— Polizia di Stato (@poliziadistato) August 14, 2018
Reuters saying “dozens feared dead” from the devastating collapse of the #PonteMorandi suspension bridge in #Genova, Italy
— ✿ṡ︎erenẹ︎ (@MythSerene) August 14, 2018
pic.twitter.com/Tdnmcq3Fgn
Look at the size of the missing section..Dear Lord. #Genoa #PonteMorandi #Italy pic.twitter.com/gyAaRkLUza
— Marty Miller🎙 (@MartyMtweets) August 14, 2018
Italian television showed images of the collapsed bridge, which was built on the A10 toll motorway in the 1960s. Restructuring work on the bridge was carried out in 2016.
It crumbled over a river, railroad tracks and buildings.
A witness told Sky Italia television he saw "eight or nine" vehicles on the bridge when it collapsed in what he said was an "apocalyptic scene".
Violento nubifragio #Genova #crollo parte del viadotto Polcevera-Morandi Km 0,200 su autostrada A10
— Polizia di Stato (@poliziadistato) August 14, 2018
Uscita obbligatoria Genova aeroporto direzione Ventimiglia
Uscita obbligatoria bivio A10 con A7 direzione Genova @StradeAnas @DPCgov @emergenzavvf @Viminale @ComunediGenova pic.twitter.com/7YJINjFWRX
Ambulances gathering at the site of the collapsed suspension bridge (#PonteMorandi) in #Genova, Italy. Several deaths are expected.
— ✿ṡ︎erenẹ︎ (@MythSerene) August 14, 2018
pic.twitter.com/GU15FmrbKQ
Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said in a tweet that he was "following with great apprehension what seems like an immense tragedy".
Shares in Atlantia, the toll road operator which runs the motorway, were suspended after falling 4.6 percent after news of the collapse.