Genoa bridge collapse: at least 22 killed, Italian minister says

[muriel_volestrangler]

Last edited Tue Aug 14, 2018, 09:34 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: The Guardian

At least 22 people have died after a motorway bridge collapsed in the northern Italian city of Genoa.

An 80-metre section of the Morandi Bridge on the A10 motorway came down in an industrial area of the port city during a sudden and violent storm at about 11.30am (0930 GMT).

The death toll was given at the scene by Edoardo Rixi, the deputy transport minister. At least eight people have been injured, and four people pulled alive from the rubble, he added.

About 20 vehicles including cars and trucks were on the affected section of the bridge when it fell 100 metres, mostly onto rail tracks, the fire service said. Other rescue workers compared the conditions to an earthquake.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/14/genoa-motorway-bridge-collapses-italy

---

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Looks like an entire bridge tower collapsed

Link to tweet

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Before and after pics

To have housing right underneath is just insane!

Earlier in the month, they were engulfed in an extended heatwave gripping much of Europe so I can see how it is possible that weak and already-compromised infrastructure could also be negatively impacted by extended high temps.

[marble falls]

3. The way we ignore our infrastructure ... this is a vision of what we face.

[WePurrsevere]

8. I agree. Ignoring our infrastructure & Republicans wanting to privatise it all...

is a recipe for disaster and asking for something horrible like this to happen here.

[marble falls]

11. I'm afraid its going to have to happen before we even start to fix it ...

But we can afford a 3/4 Trillion budget for defense.

[WePurrsevere]

14. Once again I agree. It's like the Rs WANT...

our infrastructure to fail so they can then point at it and push for privatization.

The Rs can always 'find' the money for things on their corporate (and foreign) owners wish list. The reality has become that the military is a sizable cash cow for politicians and some but corporations. Unfortunately it's not for the troops and their families who actually deserve the funds.

[Julian Englis]

4. The bridge was operated by a private company.

Italy's Autostrade was carrying out maintenance on Genoa bridge

Italy’s Autostrade, a motorway operator controlled by Atlantia, said it had been carrying out maintenance work on the flyover bridge that collapsed in Genoa on Tuesday.

Autostrade said it had been strengthening the road foundations of the bridge, which had been built in the 1960s.

“The works and state of the viaduct were under constant monitoring and supervision,” the company said in a statement.

“The causes of the collapse will be thoroughly investigated as soon it is be safe to access the site.”

[FailureToCommunicate]

5. Small consolation, but it appears that a section over some apartment buildings held up.

Horrible. And it's insane to build apartments under bridges, or bridges over densly populated areas.

Those unfortunate people.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

10. Somebody had better tell these guys:

Last edited Tue Aug 14, 2018, 10:44 AM - Edit history (1)

The objection noted is that the Brooklyn Bridge is "a monument on the scale of the Statue of Liberty."

Community Corner

Ice Skating Rink Might Be Built Under Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation is considering installing an ice skating rink underneath the Brooklyn Bridge, city records show.

By Kathleen Culliton, Patch Staff | Nov 9, 2017 10:51 am ET | Updated Nov 9, 2017 2:07 pm ET



....
"Nowhere in the world would it be appropriate to have a skating rink under the Brooklyn Bridge," said resident Katrin Adams. "It's a monument on the scale of the Statue of Liberty."
....

DUMBO_Brooklyn,_as_seen_from_the_viewing_gallery_of_One_World_Trade_Center:

[FailureToCommunicate]

15. I know it's done. I still think it's crazy.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

16. I would have a hard time living here:

Credit for the photographer:

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/575564/

WE 615 eases its way across Mingo Creek Viaduct with 6985 leading 6359 and 51 coke empties, Mingo Creek Viaduct stands at a towering 195 feet tall above Mingo Creek, This was taken from PA-43 which towers at a estimated 260 ft

Railroad: Wheeling & Lake Erie
Locomotive: EMD SD40-2
Location: Crookham, Pennsylvania, USA
Locomotive #: WE 6985
Train ID: 615
Photo Date: April 05, 2016

By: Pitt1292 Photography
Added: May 06, 2016

More pictures by him:

http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=62076

[herding cats]

6. Updated to 22 confirmed dead

Link to tweet

?

[Crabby Appleton]

7. Looks bad

[WePurrsevere]

9. How horrible! My heart aches for the victims & their loved ones.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

12. There's video of the collapse.

Of course.

EUROPE
At Least 20 People Killed As Span Of Busy Highway Bridge Collapses In Italy
August 14, 20187:38 AM ET
....

#14agosto il video del crollo di #PonteMorandi a #Genova Polcevera Morandi
@VAIstradeanas @DPCgov @emergenzavvf @Viminale @ComunediGenova
@StradeAnas

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/1029320372213174272

You don't need to know Italian to understand the commentary.

[gademocrat7]

13. Very tragic.

[EX500rider]

17. According to the BBC:

The bridge's designer, Riccardo Morandi (1902-1989) had miscalculated the "viscous deformation" - an ageing effect on reinforced concrete, Mr Brencich said.

"He was an engineer with great insight but lacking in practical calculations," the lecturer said.


https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45183624

[moondust]

18. 25 now reported dead.

Maybe more buried under rubble.

Some reports that bridge was struck by lightning before collapse.

Apparently around 300 Italian bridges and tunnels need work.

(Above per France24.)

[BigmanPigman]

19. Climate Change plus old infrastructure equals disasters.

This is just another aspect of what is connected to the future we face as Climate Change ramps up. We are not ready be a long shot. Fuck the deniers!

[GulfCoast66]

20. Climate change did not cause or effect this.

Climate Change is real and getting worse. But we do ourselves a disservice by blaming these things on it.

This is a design and to a lesser degree a maintenance issue.

Heat, cold and rain do not cause well designed and maintained structures this large to fail. The are supposed to be designed for it.

We have bridges larger and far older than this that were well designed and maintained which are as good as the day they were built. Better even. The Brooklyn Bridge will be here for our great, great grandkids to see. And it was the first of them all. A true testament to human enginuity.

That said, there are countless small bridges and viaducts crumbling in this country from lack of maintenance. But there are no bridges in the US with this design.

Let’s not mix plots.

[Calista241]

24. +1

[nitpicker]

21. Now at least 35 dead

https://www.dw.com/en/scores-dead-after-italys-genoa-bridge-collapse/a-45087114

[muriel_volestrangler]

22. Interview with a survivor

https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2018/aug/15/it-was-like-being-in-a-film-ex-footballer-on-surviving-genoa-bridge-collapse-audio

He stayed conscious - was able to call the fire brigade and his family.

[hunter]

23. This is so similar to the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse in 2007...

A deficient design, maintenance issues, all of it...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-35W_Mississippi_River_bridge