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Mexico City metro overpass collapse kills 23 Mexico City metro overpass collapse kills 23
(about 1 hour later)
Emergency crews attended the collapse late on Monday at the Olivos station on the metro's 12 LineEmergency crews attended the collapse late on Monday at the Olivos station on the metro's 12 Line
At least 23 people have been killed and dozens injured after a metro overpass collapsed in Mexico City while a train was travelling on it, officials say. A metro overpass has collapsed in Mexico City as a train was travelling over it, killing at least 23 people, including children, the mayor said.
Several train carriages plunged to the ground, crushing at least one car, which was on a busy road underneath. Two train carriages were seen hanging from the structure, above a busy road. At least 65 people were injured, and seven are in a serious condition.
Children are among the dead. Rescue workers and firefighters are still searching for survivors. One person trapped in a car underneath the wreckage was pulled out alive.
Dramatic footage has emerged showing the overpass collapsing at the Olivos station on the metro's Line 12. This is the deadliest incident in decades in the city's metro system, one of the busiest in the world.
Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said the cause of the accident was still being investigated, but it appeared a girder had given way on the overpass. Local media broadcast CCTV footage showing the overpass collapsing, sending up clouds of dust. The crash happened at around 22:00 local time on Monday (03:00 GMT) near the Olivos station on the metro's Line 12, in the south-east of the city.
One person trapped in a car underneath the collapsed structure had been pulled out alive and taken to hospital, she said. At least 65 people were injured, and seven were in a serious condition. Speaking at the scene, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said the cause was still being investigated, but it appeared a girder had given way on the overpass. The line, inaugurated less than a decade ago, will remain closed.
Residents had reported cracks in the structure after a deadly 2017 earthquake, according to local media. Mexico's El Universal newspaper says transport authorities made repairs following the reports.Residents had reported cracks in the structure after a deadly 2017 earthquake, according to local media. Mexico's El Universal newspaper says transport authorities made repairs following the reports.
There are fears that a number of people may still be trapped The accident happened on Monday night local time
The injured were taken to local hospitalsThe injured were taken to local hospitals
The accident happened at around 22:00 local time on Monday (03:00 GMT). A crane was sent to the scene to stabilise the carriages amid concerns they could fall onto the road. A crane was sent to the scene to stabilise the carriages amid concerns they could fall onto the road, which forced officials to temporarily halt rescue efforts. Anxious friends and relatives of those believed to be on the train gathered in the area.
"We only heard a loud thunder, and everything fell apart," 26-year-old Mariana, who survived the crash, told El Universal. Efrain Juarez told AFP news agency that his son was in the wreckage. "My daughter-in-law called us. She was with him and she told us the structure fell down over them."
"There were many people standing and sitting in the carriage, and when the carriage fell, we went flying and hit our heads on its roof," she described the moment of the accident. A passenger, 26-year-old Mariana, told El Universal that she and other people trapped among the carriage's twisted metal managed to escape through a window.
She also said that she and other passengers were trapped among the carriage's twisted metal before they managed to escape through a window. "We only heard a loud thunder, and everything fell apart," she said of the moment of the incident. "There were many people standing and sitting in the carriage, and when the carriage fell, we went flying and hit our heads on its roof."
The search operation reportedly had to be paused for some time amid fears of a further collapseThe search operation reportedly had to be paused for some time amid fears of a further collapse
The area around the crash site has been sealed off as the search for survivors continuesThe area around the crash site has been sealed off as the search for survivors continues
One eyewitness told Mexico's Televisa TV network: "Suddenly I saw that the structure was shaking."One eyewitness told Mexico's Televisa TV network: "Suddenly I saw that the structure was shaking."
"When the dust cleared we ran... to see if we could help. There were no screams. I don't know if they were in shock," the witness said."When the dust cleared we ran... to see if we could help. There were no screams. I don't know if they were in shock," the witness said.
Mexico City's metro system is one of the most used in the world, carrying tens of millions of passengers a week. In North America, only New York's subway carries more people every day.Mexico City's metro system is one of the most used in the world, carrying tens of millions of passengers a week. In North America, only New York's subway carries more people every day.
Yet the incident did not occur on one of the older lines, which have been through at least two major earthquakes in the past 35 years. Rather it happened on Line 12, completed as recently as October 2012.Yet the incident did not occur on one of the older lines, which have been through at least two major earthquakes in the past 35 years. Rather it happened on Line 12, completed as recently as October 2012.
There will be difficult questions for the mayor's office to come about the construction of the line, including for several former mayors.There will be difficult questions for the mayor's office to come about the construction of the line, including for several former mayors.
They include Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who was in office when Line 12 was unveiled and who championed the metro's expansion. They include Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who was in office when Line 12 was unveiled and who championed the metro's expansion. He called the accident a "terrible tragedy".
However, those questions must wait until later. The moment now is solely about the rescue operation as Mexicans pray the number of victims does not rise any further.However, those questions must wait until later. The moment now is solely about the rescue operation as Mexicans pray the number of victims does not rise any further.
Mexico City's metro is one of the world's busiest rapid transit systems, carrying about 1.6 billion passengers a year. Mexico City's metro carries about 1.6 billion passengers a year.
Last year, one person was killed and more than 40 injured in a collision between two metro trains in the city.Last year, one person was killed and more than 40 injured in a collision between two metro trains in the city.
In 1975, two underground trains collided, killing 31 people.In 1975, two underground trains collided, killing 31 people.
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