This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/world/bridge-collapses-history.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Seven of the Deadliest Infrastructure Failures Throughout History Seven of the Deadliest Infrastructure Failures Throughout History
(about 3 hours later)
At least 20 people died on Tuesday after a highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, Italy, raising concerns about the country’s aging infrastructure. Twenty-six people died on Tuesday after a highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, Italy, raising concerns about the country’s aging infrastructure.
The bridge’s failure sent vehicles, concrete and steel raining down onto buildings, streets and railroad tracks below. The cause of the collapse was unclear, but a government official noted that the bridge had shown signs of problems in the past.The bridge’s failure sent vehicles, concrete and steel raining down onto buildings, streets and railroad tracks below. The cause of the collapse was unclear, but a government official noted that the bridge had shown signs of problems in the past.
Here is a look at historical infrastructure collapses — including bridges, buildings and dams — that have killed thousands since the early 20th century. Each disaster resulted in investigations into whether the structure was built properly.Here is a look at historical infrastructure collapses — including bridges, buildings and dams — that have killed thousands since the early 20th century. Each disaster resulted in investigations into whether the structure was built properly.
A section of a newly built bridge in Quebec, Canada, collapsed into the St. Lawrence River on Aug. 29, 1907. It threw scores of bridge workers and mechanics into the river and killed at least 80 people.A section of a newly built bridge in Quebec, Canada, collapsed into the St. Lawrence River on Aug. 29, 1907. It threw scores of bridge workers and mechanics into the river and killed at least 80 people.
The disaster occurred just as the whistle blew for the workers to quit for the day, when a section of the mile-and-a-half-long bridge crumpled and caused a chain reaction of breaking girders and cables. A report later blamed the bridge’s engineers.The disaster occurred just as the whistle blew for the workers to quit for the day, when a section of the mile-and-a-half-long bridge crumpled and caused a chain reaction of breaking girders and cables. A report later blamed the bridge’s engineers.
As the bridge was being reconstructed in 1916, the structure collapsed again as it was being hoisted into place, killing 13 workers.As the bridge was being reconstructed in 1916, the structure collapsed again as it was being hoisted into place, killing 13 workers.
The St. Francis Dam, built in a mountainous area near Los Angeles, burst in the early morning hours of March 13, 1928, sending 12 billion gallons of water surging toward the ocean.The St. Francis Dam, built in a mountainous area near Los Angeles, burst in the early morning hours of March 13, 1928, sending 12 billion gallons of water surging toward the ocean.
“Caught in the swirl of the raging flood, the hundreds of ranch houses that once dotted the canyon were crushed like egg shells and their inhabitants in most instances swept to their doom,” The New York Times reported.“Caught in the swirl of the raging flood, the hundreds of ranch houses that once dotted the canyon were crushed like egg shells and their inhabitants in most instances swept to their doom,” The New York Times reported.
In the days afterward, rumors abounded that the dam collapsed because it had been dynamited. But officials investigating the catastrophe ultimately blamed the dam’s “defective foundation,” according to The Associated Press.In the days afterward, rumors abounded that the dam collapsed because it had been dynamited. But officials investigating the catastrophe ultimately blamed the dam’s “defective foundation,” according to The Associated Press.
The dam’s chief engineer acknowledged that hours before the dam burst, he had seen a leak in the structure indicating that its condition was “very bad.”The dam’s chief engineer acknowledged that hours before the dam burst, he had seen a leak in the structure indicating that its condition was “very bad.”
At the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, Mo., guests were attending a weekly “tea dance” in July 1981 when a walkway above them began to buckle.At the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, Mo., guests were attending a weekly “tea dance” in July 1981 when a walkway above them began to buckle.
The topmost walkway, suspended from the ceiling of the lobby’s atrium by steel rods, collapsed on another two stories under, crushing people standing below. One guest said it sounded like a clap of lightning.The topmost walkway, suspended from the ceiling of the lobby’s atrium by steel rods, collapsed on another two stories under, crushing people standing below. One guest said it sounded like a clap of lightning.
More than 100 people died in the collapse, making it one of the deadliest structural collapses in United States history.More than 100 people died in the collapse, making it one of the deadliest structural collapses in United States history.
Later, reports emerged that the walkways had been swaying to the rhythm of the dancers before they failed. Investigators later reported that the walkways had design problems and could support only about one-quarter of the load required by the city’s building code.Later, reports emerged that the walkways had been swaying to the rhythm of the dancers before they failed. Investigators later reported that the walkways had design problems and could support only about one-quarter of the load required by the city’s building code.
The center section of a bridge over the Schoharie Creek near Amsterdam, N.Y., collapsed suddenly in April 1987. It dropped at least two cars and a truck into raging floodwaters, killing 10 people.The center section of a bridge over the Schoharie Creek near Amsterdam, N.Y., collapsed suddenly in April 1987. It dropped at least two cars and a truck into raging floodwaters, killing 10 people.
An engineer told officials that the bridge on the New York State Thruway had failed because floodwaters scoured gravel and silt from around its footings, stirring up the stream bed around the structure and causing it to shift. But officials later said that the disaster could have been avoided with proper maintenance and inspections and that flaws in the bridge made it vulnerable to erosion.An engineer told officials that the bridge on the New York State Thruway had failed because floodwaters scoured gravel and silt from around its footings, stirring up the stream bed around the structure and causing it to shift. But officials later said that the disaster could have been avoided with proper maintenance and inspections and that flaws in the bridge made it vulnerable to erosion.
A five-story mall in South Korea collapsed on a June evening in 1995. Thousands were believed to have been shopping at the time, and more than 500 people died.A five-story mall in South Korea collapsed on a June evening in 1995. Thousands were believed to have been shopping at the time, and more than 500 people died.
The rescue effort at the Sampoong Department Store complex continued for many days. In one moment of hope amid a lot of misery, one woman was found alive after being stuck under concrete for 16 days.The rescue effort at the Sampoong Department Store complex continued for many days. In one moment of hope amid a lot of misery, one woman was found alive after being stuck under concrete for 16 days.
Before the collapse, cracks in the structure had revealed themselves throughout the day, but the department store’s owner chose not to evacuate the entire building.Before the collapse, cracks in the structure had revealed themselves throughout the day, but the department store’s owner chose not to evacuate the entire building.
Months after the disaster, the owner was convicted of criminal negligence and sentenced to jail time.Months after the disaster, the owner was convicted of criminal negligence and sentenced to jail time.
An interstate highway bridge crowded with rush-hour traffic dropped into the Mississippi River in August 2007, sending at least 50 vehicles plunging into the water. The disaster killed 13 people.An interstate highway bridge crowded with rush-hour traffic dropped into the Mississippi River in August 2007, sending at least 50 vehicles plunging into the water. The disaster killed 13 people.
The eight-lane bridge, built in the 1960s, was the main north-south route through Minneapolis and was being repaired at the time of the collapse.The eight-lane bridge, built in the 1960s, was the main north-south route through Minneapolis and was being repaired at the time of the collapse.
Investigators later determined that the bridge failed because of a design flaw that was exacerbated as construction workers added more weight to the structure with concrete, adding strain to a weak spot.Investigators later determined that the bridge failed because of a design flaw that was exacerbated as construction workers added more weight to the structure with concrete, adding strain to a weak spot.
More than a thousand people died in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in April 2013 when a building housing several clothing factories collapsed into a heap of rubble.More than a thousand people died in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in April 2013 when a building housing several clothing factories collapsed into a heap of rubble.
Survivors told reporters that the building seemed to implode as concrete beams and pillars fell. The factories, which produced garments for American and European brands, were built with substandard materials and without regard for building codes, according to a government report issued after the disaster.Survivors told reporters that the building seemed to implode as concrete beams and pillars fell. The factories, which produced garments for American and European brands, were built with substandard materials and without regard for building codes, according to a government report issued after the disaster.
The Bangladesh police filed murder charges against 41 people accused of involvement in the collapse. The owner of the plaza received a three-year jail sentence in 2017 related to corruption charges, the BBC reported.The Bangladesh police filed murder charges against 41 people accused of involvement in the collapse. The owner of the plaza received a three-year jail sentence in 2017 related to corruption charges, the BBC reported.
The disaster revived international attention to labor conditions in Bangladesh.The disaster revived international attention to labor conditions in Bangladesh.