Collapse of a Bridge in Genoa, Italy Leaves at Least 35 Dead

The collapse of an aerial bridge in the city of Genoa, Italy, which occurred on Tuesday, August 14, left around 35 dead, with the death toll expected to rise. Danilo Toninelli, Italy's Minister of Transport, described the incident as a "great tragedy" for the Italian nation. He stated, "I follow with the utmost sorrow and concern what has happened in Genoa, which seems to be a great tragedy." He also attributed the bridge's collapse to the deterioration of Italy's infrastructure and the lack of proper maintenance, emphasizing that those responsible for this incident will pay the price. Eduardo Rixi, Italy's Deputy Minister of Transport, also called the bridge's collapse "unacceptable" and said, "A bridge of this importance... should not have collapsed like this. It is unacceptable. The central axis of the bridge has broken." According to reports from Italian media, about 200 meters of the "Morandi" bridge collapsed and fell onto the road below. Images released from the incident show cars and trucks trapped under the rubble. The Morandi bridge is located in an industrial area west of the port of Genoa and collapsed around noon. This bridge is situated on the A10 highway, stands 50 meters high, and was built in the 1960s. The Italian emergency services have assured that firefighters and rescue personnel, along with trained dogs, are searching for victims trapped under the rubble. Approximately 200 firefighters are present in this operation. Reports also indicate that shares of the Italian company Atlantia, which is responsible for many of the country's roads and highways, fell by 9.7% following the Morandi bridge collapse, reaching 22.48 euros. Genoa is located between the sea and mountains in the northwestern region of Italy.