Huge 850ft road bridge collapses in Italy – but just two drivers are injured with the river crossing virtually empty amid Covid-19 lockdown
- The 850ft bridge collapsed this morning near the town of Aulla, which is midway between Genoa & Florence
- Italy’s lockdown has cut traffic across the country, including on the SS330 road where the bridge collapsed
- Two drivers have been taken to hospital after sustaining minor injuries and the fire brigade are still on site
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A bridge on a normally busy road in northern Italy collapsed on Wednesday but only two drivers were caught up in the chaos as the coronavirus lockdown has largely halted traffic.
The 850ft bridge near the town of Aulla, roughly midway between Genoa and Florence, in the northern tip of Tuscany, collapsed at 10.25am (0825 GMT).
The lockdown imposed by the government to cope with the coronavirus emergency has cut traffic in the whole country, including on the road, known as the SS330.
A handout photo made available by the Italian Carabinieri Press Office shows the collapsed bridge on a provincial road between Santo Stefan Magra and Alibano in Massa-Carrara province, Tuscany, Italy, today
A collapsed bridge is seen on SP70 provincial roadway near Aulla, in Tuscany, Italy today
he collapsed bridge on a provincial road between Santo Stefano Magra and Albiano in Massa-Carrara province, Tuscany, Italy, today. A van was hit by falling masonry and the driver was taken to hospital with slight injuries. Another van driver was reportedly unhurt but in shock.
A handout photo made available by the Italian Carabinieri Press Office shows the collapsed bridge on a provincial road between Santo Stefan Magra and Alibano in Massa-Carrara province, Tuscany, Italy today
The collapsed bridge on a provincial road between Santo Stefano Magra and Albiano in Massa-Carrara province, Tuscany, Italy, today
A team of the fire brigade were still on site to ensure members of the public keep away from the bridge, which has broken into a number of large broken slabs, La Repubblica reported.
Two drivers were taken to two separate hospitals with minor injuries. One of the men, a delivery driver, was taken to hospital in Pisa, while the second, was taken to a facility in La Spezia.
The bridge was previously managed by provincial authorities and was then put under the management of ANAS, a company controlled by state-owned railway group Ferrovie dello Stato.
he collapsed bridge on a provincial road between Santo Stefano Magra and Albiano in Massa-Carrara province, Tuscany, Italy, today
Pictured: The bridge outside of Aulla, midway between Florence and Genoa, before it collapsed this morning
Pictured: Before and after the collapse of the bridge outside the town of Aulla, midway between Genoa and Florence in Italy
A handout photo made available by the Italian Carabinieri Press Office shows the collapsed bridge on a provincial road between Santo Stefan Magra and Alibano in Massa-Carrara province, Tuscany, Italy, today
The collapsed bridge on a provincial road between Santo Stefano Magra and Albiano in Massa-Carrara province, Tuscany, Italy today. A van was hit by falling masonry and the driver was taken to hospital with slight injuries
A handout photo made available by the Italian Carabinieri Press Office shows the collapsed bridge on a provincial road between Santo Stefan Magra and Alibano in Massa-Carrara province, Tuscany, Italy today
According to La Repubblica, a crack had appeared on the bridge last November, which was inspected by technicians who decided that it posed no danger to the structure.
Transport Minister Paola De Micheli said that she had requested ANAS provide a detailed report.
Forty-three people were killed in August 2018 when a when a viaduct in the port town of Genoa and operated by infrastructure group Atlantia gave way.