A 15-year-old girl has been recovered after a bridge collapsed in a river in the southern French region of Merupo-sur-Tarn, while at least two cars were still being searched, a prosecutor in Toulouse said on Monday.
He added that the suspension bridge collapsed as a vehicle carrying heavy goods and a private car passed. Rescuers were able to retrieve the body of the girl, who was in the private car, and her mother was able to swim and rescued bystanders.
Ziari told a news conference that rescuers were looking for the driver of the truck, and they were working to make sure that no other cars fell into the river.
About 70 firefighters were on the scene, assisted by divers, sniffer dogs and three helicopters, a fire department official told BFMTV.
Upper Garonne province said five people had been taken to hospital, including bystanders who rushed to help the victims and two firefighters.
The bridge, on a regional road, is 155 meters long and was built in 1931.
A report submitted to the French Senate last year after 43 people were killed in the collapse of a bridge in Genoa, Italy, revealed that there are at least 25 thousand bridges in France in poor structural condition, but the mayor of the region, Eric Augett said that the collapsed bridge was renovated in 2003, The local authorities periodically examine it.