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| Two die in French bridge collapse near Toulouse | Two die in French bridge collapse near Toulouse |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A 15-year-old girl and a truck driver were killed when a suspension bridge collapsed in south-western France. | A 15-year-old girl and a truck driver were killed when a suspension bridge collapsed in south-western France. |
| Two vehicles fell into the River Tarn north of Toulouse when the bridge near the village of Mirepoix-sur-Tarn fell down at around 08:00 (07:00 GMT). | Two vehicles fell into the River Tarn north of Toulouse when the bridge near the village of Mirepoix-sur-Tarn fell down at around 08:00 (07:00 GMT). |
| Five people were also seriously injured including two rescuers and local people who had tried to save victims. | Five people were also seriously injured including two rescuers and local people who had tried to save victims. |
| An investigation has been opened. There has long been concern at the state of the country's bridges. | An investigation has been opened. There has long been concern at the state of the country's bridges. |
| The girl was travelling in a car with her mother when the bridge collapsed, according to local authorities. | The girl was travelling in a car with her mother when the bridge collapsed, according to local authorities. |
| Her mother was dragged from the water by bystanders, Toulouse public prosecutor Dominique Alzeari said, but she herself perished. | Her mother was dragged from the water by bystanders, Toulouse public prosecutor Dominique Alzeari said, but she herself perished. |
| A truck also fell into the river and the body of its driver was found during a day-long operation, involving helicopters and dozens of emergency services personnel. | A truck also fell into the river and the body of its driver was found during a day-long operation, involving helicopters and dozens of emergency services personnel. |
| First reports that a third vehicle - a van - also fell into the water now appear to be wrong. | First reports that a third vehicle - a van - also fell into the water now appear to be wrong. |
| Witnesses have told the BBC's Chris Bockman in Toulouse that a school bus crossed less than a minute before the structure collapsed. | |
| How safe was the bridge? | How safe was the bridge? |
| Eric Oget, mayor of Mirepoix-sur-Tarn, has suggested warnings about the bridge's weight restriction - displayed at either side of the crossing - might have been ignored by drivers. | Eric Oget, mayor of Mirepoix-sur-Tarn, has suggested warnings about the bridge's weight restriction - displayed at either side of the crossing - might have been ignored by drivers. |
| "From time to time I have actually seen very heavy vehicles using the bridge," Mr Oget told the BBC. | "From time to time I have actually seen very heavy vehicles using the bridge," Mr Oget told the BBC. |
| "We have always been vigilant in carrying out checks with the municipal police, to stop them when we see it, but there are times when we do not see them." | "We have always been vigilant in carrying out checks with the municipal police, to stop them when we see it, but there are times when we do not see them." |
| The bridge - 155m (170 yards) long and almost 7m wide - dates back to 1931 and was described by Mr Oget as a "very important crossing point" in the region. | The bridge - 155m (170 yards) long and almost 7m wide - dates back to 1931 and was described by Mr Oget as a "very important crossing point" in the region. |
| It was renovated in 2003 by Haute-Garonne council and last inspected late last year, showing no structural problems. | It was renovated in 2003 by Haute-Garonne council and last inspected late last year, showing no structural problems. |
| Some 25,000 bridges around France are in need of urgent repair work, according to a Senate report from June. | Some 25,000 bridges around France are in need of urgent repair work, according to a Senate report from June. |
| Senator Herve Maure, who oversaw the audit, told AFP news agency on Monday: "The state of our bridges poses a real danger. If a bridge which is not listed as dangerous collapses, what is the situation of those bridges which were clearly identified as dangerous?" | Senator Herve Maure, who oversaw the audit, told AFP news agency on Monday: "The state of our bridges poses a real danger. If a bridge which is not listed as dangerous collapses, what is the situation of those bridges which were clearly identified as dangerous?" |