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| Florida university bridge collapses leaving 'several fatalities' | Florida university bridge collapses leaving 'several fatalities' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A newly installed pedestrian bridge has collapsed at Florida International University and police say there are several fatalities. | A newly installed pedestrian bridge has collapsed at Florida International University and police say there are several fatalities. |
| Images of the buckled structure at the college in Miami were shared across social media on Thursday afternoon. | Images of the buckled structure at the college in Miami were shared across social media on Thursday afternoon. |
| The 950-ton bridge only went up on Saturday, CBS Miami reports. | |
| An unknown number of people were trapped underneath the bridge, which was built over a motorway, a Florida Highway Patrol spokesman told the BBC. | |
| Florida Highway Patrol Lt Alejandro Camacho said the number of fatalities was unclear, but it was "safe to say more than one". | |
| He added at least five to six vehicles had been crushed beneath the bridge, which was not yet open to pedestrians. | |
| Aerial footage shows first responders trying to get under the bridge to trapped cars. | Aerial footage shows first responders trying to get under the bridge to trapped cars. |
| The university issued a statement saying rescue efforts were still underway. | The university issued a statement saying rescue efforts were still underway. |
| "We are shocked and saddened about the tragic events unfolding at the FIU-Sweetwater pedestrian bridge," said a university spokesperson. | "We are shocked and saddened about the tragic events unfolding at the FIU-Sweetwater pedestrian bridge," said a university spokesperson. |
| "At this time we are still involved in rescue efforts and gathering information." | "At this time we are still involved in rescue efforts and gathering information." |
| Miami-Dade County Emergency Management urged commuters to avoid the area. | Miami-Dade County Emergency Management urged commuters to avoid the area. |
| A witness told ABC News that the screams coming from the cars were "terrifying". | A witness told ABC News that the screams coming from the cars were "terrifying". |
| "As soon as I looked outside, I saw dust flying everywhere," Tiona Page said. "I knew the bridge had collapsed." | "As soon as I looked outside, I saw dust flying everywhere," Tiona Page said. "I knew the bridge had collapsed." |
| Another witness, Damany Reed, told CBS News: "I heard a big kaboom...it sounded continuous. We look outside...we thought something had fallen but it was the bridge that collapsed. It was just surreal at that moment and pretty scary". | |
| Florida Governor Rick Scott responded to the accident on Twitter: "I have spoken with Miami-Dade County Police Chief Juan Perez about the pedestrian bridge collapse at FIU. | Florida Governor Rick Scott responded to the accident on Twitter: "I have spoken with Miami-Dade County Police Chief Juan Perez about the pedestrian bridge collapse at FIU. |
| "I will be in constant communication with law enforcement throughout the day." | "I will be in constant communication with law enforcement throughout the day." |
| White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said President Donald Trump was aware of the incident and would send any assistance needed to help local law enforcement officials. | |
| The bridge, which connected the college to a student housing area, had long been requested by students and staff at the university so they could avoid the traffic below, according to the Miami Herald. | |
| In August 2017, a student was hit and killed by cars while crossing the busy road. | In August 2017, a student was hit and killed by cars while crossing the busy road. |
| Munilla Construction company (MCM), a family-owned contractor that helped build the bridge, tweeted "thoughts and prayers" for those affected by the tragedy. | Munilla Construction company (MCM), a family-owned contractor that helped build the bridge, tweeted "thoughts and prayers" for those affected by the tragedy. |
| "We will conduct a full investigation to determine exactly what went wrong and will cooperate with investigators on scene in every way," the firm tweeted. | "We will conduct a full investigation to determine exactly what went wrong and will cooperate with investigators on scene in every way," the firm tweeted. |
| The university had touted the new swinging span on Twitter just days ago. | The university had touted the new swinging span on Twitter just days ago. |
| The 174ft (53m) cable-supported footbridge was to be publicly opened in 2019, local media say. | The 174ft (53m) cable-supported footbridge was to be publicly opened in 2019, local media say. |
| Costing $14.2m (£12.5m), it was funded by the US Department of Transportation. | Costing $14.2m (£12.5m), it was funded by the US Department of Transportation. |
| NBA basketball team Miami Heat tweeted their support to the FIU community. | |
| Are you in the area? Did you witness what happened? If it's safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? Did you witness what happened? If it's safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |