This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6927725.stm

The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 13 Version 14
Bid to recover Mississippi bodies Divers suspend Minneapolis search
(about 2 hours later)
US emergency teams are searching for bodies a day after a bridge over the Mississippi river collapsed, killing a number of people. Divers in the US city of Minneapolis have suspended their search overnight for victims of a bridge that collapsed over the Mississippi river.
Officials said it was too dangerous for the divers to work in the dark.
At least four people are confirmed dead with up to 30 missing. US officials are not linking the collapse to terrorism.At least four people are confirmed dead with up to 30 missing. US officials are not linking the collapse to terrorism.
Some 50 vehicles were hurled into the water when part of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, gave way during the rush hour on Wednesday evening.Some 50 vehicles were hurled into the water when part of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, gave way during the rush hour on Wednesday evening.
Rescue officials said they expected the death toll to rise.Rescue officials said they expected the death toll to rise.
Minneapolis police chief Tim Dolan said people were still trapped inside vehicles and the recovery effort would take at least three days. Local hospitals said they treated 79 people for injuries, mainly broken bones and head and spinal injuries.
"We're dealing with the Mississippi river, we're dealing with currents and we're going to have to do it slowly and safely," Mr Dolan said. Minneapolis Mayor Raymond Thomas Rybak said: "Sadly and tragically, we don't believe there are people who are alive in the river.
Investigators are treating the area as a crime scene until they determine a cause for the collapse. name="back"> "That means we are going to be very, very careful not to risk anything with the divers who are there, so we will be cautious in that regard."
class="bodl" href="#anchor">See graphic of the bridge collapse Inspections urged
US President George W Bush said the federal government must "respond robustly" to help the people of Minnesota recover and rebuild the bridge as quickly as possible.US President George W Bush said the federal government must "respond robustly" to help the people of Minnesota recover and rebuild the bridge as quickly as possible.
The bridge started falling, cars were flying everywhere and I saw the water coming up Catherine YankelevichLocal driver class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6927526.stm">What caused collapse? class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6927512.stm">It was like a movie - witness class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6927178.stm">In pictures: Bridge collapse class="bodl" href="#anchor">See graphic of the bridge collapse
Mr Bush will travel to the scene of the collapse on Saturday. His wife, Laura Bush, will visit Minneapolis on Friday to meet victims of the incident. Mr Bush will travel to the scene of the collapse on Saturday. His wife, Laura Bush, will visit Minneapolis on Friday to meet victims of the disaster.
The collapse has focussed US attention on its ageing infrastructure, particularly bridges.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters called on all states to inspect the more than 700 steel truss bridges across the country similar to the one in Minneapolis.
Deficiencies dispute
The federal Department of Transportation has offered an initial $5m (£2.5m) to help with clean-up efforts and transport issues.The federal Department of Transportation has offered an initial $5m (£2.5m) to help with clean-up efforts and transport issues.
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty said the collapse was a "catastrophe of historic proportions". The bridge started falling, cars were flying everywhere and I saw the water coming up Catherine YankelevichLocal driver class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6927526.stm">What caused collapse? class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6927512.stm">It was like a movie - witness class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6927178.stm">In pictures: Bridge collapse
Congress has begun working on legislation that would provide $250m to replace the bridge.
The 40-year-old I-35W highway bridge was being repaired at the time of the collapse.The 40-year-old I-35W highway bridge was being repaired at the time of the collapse.
Mr Pawlenty ordered an immediate inspection of all bridges in the state with similar designs. He said the bridge was last inspected in 2006 and no significant structural problems were found. Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty ordered an immediate inspection of all bridges in the state with similar designs. He said the bridge was last inspected in 2006 and no significant structural problems were found.
But in 2005, the bridge was one of thousands across the US rated as "structurally deficient" on the federal National Bridge Inventory database.But in 2005, the bridge was one of thousands across the US rated as "structurally deficient" on the federal National Bridge Inventory database.
The bridge rated 50 on a scale of 100 for structural stability in that study, White House press secretary Tony Snow said. I-35W BRIDGE 9340 Eight-lane, steel-arch bridgeBuilt in 1967Used by 140,000 cars a day
White House press secretary Tony Snow said that it was the state's responsibility to correct the problems if a bridge was reported to have deficiencies, even though the inspection did not indicate the Minneapolis bridge was at risk.
Investigators from the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) would review video of the collapse and recover pieces of the bridge and reassemble them to determine how and why the bridge collapsed, NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker said.Investigators from the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) would review video of the collapse and recover pieces of the bridge and reassemble them to determine how and why the bridge collapsed, NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker said.
Traffic had been "bumper to bumper" at the time of the incident as only one lane was open in either direction on the eight-lane road due to construction work on the arched bridge.Traffic had been "bumper to bumper" at the time of the incident as only one lane was open in either direction on the eight-lane road due to construction work on the arched bridge.
Fiery wreckage Huge roar
Tons of concrete crashed 64 feet (20m) into the water as the structure crumbled.Tons of concrete crashed 64 feet (20m) into the water as the structure crumbled.
MINNEAPOLIS Largest city in Minnesota stateIt and adjoining state capital St Paul form part of the Twin Cities area Twin Cities area population about 3.5m
Injured people waited for rescue as vehicles dangled off the crumpled concrete and smoke billowed into the sky from the fiery wreckage of a lorry.Injured people waited for rescue as vehicles dangled off the crumpled concrete and smoke billowed into the sky from the fiery wreckage of a lorry.
MINNEAPOLIS Largest city in Minnesota stateIt and adjoining state capital St Paul form part of the Twin Cities area Twin Cities area population about 3.5m
Some people managed to swim to safety.Some people managed to swim to safety.
"The bridge started falling, cars were flying everywhere and I saw the water coming up," Catherine Yankelevich, whose car ended up in the water, told AFP news agency."The bridge started falling, cars were flying everywhere and I saw the water coming up," Catherine Yankelevich, whose car ended up in the water, told AFP news agency.
"The water was coming up pretty fast, so I rolled the window down... It seemed like a movie, and it was pretty scary."
At least 50 children were led to safety with only minor injuries from a school bus that clung to the side of a collapsed section over the river.At least 50 children were led to safety with only minor injuries from a school bus that clung to the side of a collapsed section over the river.
Huge roar
Police said officials had accounted for all but one of the construction workers who had been on the bridge at the time of the collapse.
I-35W BRIDGE 9340 Eight-lane, steel-arch bridgeBuilt in 1967Used by 140,000 cars a day
Eyewitnesses said they heard a huge roar as the structure fell into the river.Eyewitnesses said they heard a huge roar as the structure fell into the river.
"What I first heard was a giant rumbling sound from my apartment," Mark Lacroix told the BBC."What I first heard was a giant rumbling sound from my apartment," Mark Lacroix told the BBC.
"I'm 20 storeys up, just a stone's throw from the bridge itself, and I thought, maybe my own building was coming down, it was an amazing noise. And I look out of the window and I see just the final moments of it collapsing into the river."I'm 20 storeys up, just a stone's throw from the bridge itself, and I thought, maybe my own building was coming down, it was an amazing noise. And I look out of the window and I see just the final moments of it collapsing into the river.
"It really took quite a while for me to realise that this was not a planned explosion... to realise it was a tragedy.""It really took quite a while for me to realise that this was not a planned explosion... to realise it was a tragedy."
name="anchor"> Return Return