• Collapse bridge, Mattarella: "Frightening and absurd misfortune, serious examination of causes and responsibilities"
  • The video of the collapse of the Morandi bridge in Genoa
  • Genoa, witness passed on the bridge a few seconds before: I turned around and saw the bridge collapse
  • Genova. Firefighters: Usar teams, water rescuers, dog units on site
  • Genoa, bridge collapse: designed by the engineer Riccardo Morandi, it was built between 1963 and 1967
  • "Ponte Morandi, masterpiece? It gave problems right away": the evaluation of an engineer
  • Genoa, Morandi bridge collapses: dozens of dead
  • Toninelli: managers will pay until the last minute. "Maintenance? It couldn't have been done"
  • Collapsed bridge in Genoa, Civil Protection: at least 30 vehicles involved
  • Bridge collapse: former Cagliari goalkeeper falls but is saved

Share

15 August 2018Unprecedented disaster in Genoa. Over a hundred meters of the Morandi bridge on the A10 motorway collapsed while a storm was raging. Dozens of vehicles involved: the latest death toll, released by the Liguria region, is 35 confirmed deaths. Among them also three children aged 12.13 and 8 years.

And the budget, unfortunately, risks worsening again. There are about ten missing people that rescuers are looking for. 

Among the deceased whose bodies were transferred to the Policlinico San Martino also those of the 2 employees of Amiu, the environmental company of the Municipality of Genoa. These are the two drivers who had registered for the job but who were then unavailable. Apparently they would have been driving one of the two Porter vans and the auto sewerage truck which were crushed by the rubble of the bridge in the Rialzo depot.





#CrolloPonteMorandi Update, 2 more corpses extracted. The official death toll rises to 26: 23 on the spot, 1 in the operating room and the last 2 extracts. 15 wounded remain, including 9 red

- Liguria Region (@LiguriaOnLine) 14 August 2018
Numbers for information and reports
The Prefecture of Genoa has set up 2 dedicated numbers for information and reports of any missing persons: 010/5360637 and 010/5360654 . The crollopontemorandi@interno.it mailbox has also been activated for information, requests and reports. 

Rescue
Both roadways suddenly fell to the ground, crashing tens of meters lower. On the spot they work tirelessly to the rescue services of the Fire Brigade, medical personnel, law enforcement, army and dog units. Under the rubble the voices of some living people would still be heard.

Rescuers talk about the risk that other parts of the bridge may collapse, "for this reason we have displaced people from all surrounding buildings". Gas and electricity were shut down in the disaster area.

Civil protection: about 35 vehicles involved
According to data collected by the Civil Protection at the time of the collapse, 35 vehicles, plus three heavy vehicles, were in transit on the structure. The collapse of the bridge did not involve people in the houses or in transit under the structure, but only the occupants of the fallen vehicles. Autostrade's technicians were activated to verify the tightness of the rest of the bridge, said the head of the Civil Protection, Angelo Borrelli, on the sidelines of the operational committee in progress in Rome.

Images of the collapse and of the rescue 




30 vehicles in the 'crater', looking for victims 
The searches of the rescuers are concentrated in an area close to the railway where a kind of crater was formed due to the collapse of the bridge. Below it is estimated there are about thirty vehicles. The search for additional people involved will continue in the coming hours.  

The wounded extracted from the rubble 
Four people were extracted alive from the rubble. 16 wounded are ascertained and transferred to the various hospitals in the city. "There are four polytraumatized and traumatized cranial and spine red codes and three fractured subjects, said general manager ASL 3 Carlo Bottaro. In addition there are psychic traumatized, ie women and children who witnessed the collapse of the bridge". An ad hoc psychological and psychiatric unit has been set up for these patients.

440 displaced, 11 buildings evacuated 
A total of 440 people were forced to leave their homes following the collapse. The number could increase as evictions are still ongoing. The Municipality of Genoa makes this known. The Civil Protection of the Municipality has so far proceeded to evacuate 11 buildings and the situation is under constant monitoring. A part of evacuated citizens found accommodation independently, while at the moment there are 34 people hosted at the Buranello Civic Center, a structure made available by the Municipality of Genoa. Eleven people will arrive later in the evening. The Civic Center also hosts 10 people rescued on the highway.



Structural
failure It would have been a structural failure that caused the collapse. The collapse occurred in the stretch overlooking Via Walter Fillak, in the Sanpierdarena area.  



Motorways: consolidation was underway. Castellucci: "Bridge was not dangerous"
In relation to the collapse of part of the Polcevera viaduct on the A10, Autostrade per l'Italia announces that "on the structure - dating back to the 1960s - work was underway to consolidate the viaduct slab and that as planned, a bridge crane had been installed to allow maintenance activities to be carried out ". "The works and the state of the viaduct were subject to constant observation and surveillance by the Genoa Trunk Department", assures Autostrade. "I do not know that the bridge was dangerous and that it should be closed. Autostrade per l'Italia has made and continues to make investments," said the managing director of the company Giovanni Castellucci, at Gr1.

The collapse is "for us something unexpected and unexpected compared to the monitoring activity that was done on the bridge. Nothing bode well" that could happen. This was stated by the director of the Genoa trunk of Autostrade per l'Italia Stefano Marigliani, underlining that "there was absolutely no element to consider the bridge dangerous". The bridge explained the director was affected by "maintenance interventions on several fronts".

"Continuous maintenance" due to deterioration caused by intense traffic
The A10 motorway section in Genoa and the connection to the Serravalle motorway produce "queues of vehicles on a daily basis during rush hour and the volume reached by traffic causes an intense degradation of the structure of the 'Morandi' viaduct, as it is subjected to enormous strains. The viaduct has therefore undergone continuous maintenance for years ". This is stated in a report from Autostrade per l'Italia of May 2011 on the adaptation of the A7-A10-A12 system. 

Under the viaduct there are shopping centers and industrial warehouses, as well as some residential buildings. The railway connecting Genoa to Milan also runs under the structure. From what we learn it seems that the collapsed part of the viaduct, in the central part, mainly affected the bed of the Polcevera stream.

# 14ago #Genoa 12:00, part of the Morandi bridge collapses on # A10. #Vigilidelfuoco teams are operating en masse, attivatinteam usar and dog lovers pic.twitter.com/gjSJLvjw1K

- Firefighters (@emergenzavvf) 14 August 2018
Dog teams at work
The dog teams and Usar, the search and rescue experts among the urban rubble, have also been activated by the Fire Brigade.

Violent storm #Genoa #crollo part of the Polcevera-Morandi viaduct Km 0,200 on the A10 motorway
Mandatory exit Genova airport direction Ventimiglia
Mandatory exit junction A10 with A7 direction Genova @StradeAnas @DPCgov @emergenzavvf @Viminale @ComunediGenova pic.twitter.com/7YJINjFWRX

- State Police (@poliziadistato) August 14, 2018



#Genoa disaster. The highway bridge collapses. We are looking for information. pic.twitter.com/f2Z0c91JLZ

- Sergio Battelli (@BattelliSergio) 14 August 2018
The testimonials
"I saw people running towards me, barefoot and terrified". So Alberto Lercari, ATP driver, present at the moment of the collapse on the bridge, sold for 200 meters shortly after 11 am. Lercari came from Arenzano towards Genoa west ,: "Leaving the tunnel I saw slowdowns and heard a roar. People ran away coming towards it was horrible. " Lercari spoke of timely intervention by police and firefighters. Several people were injured. Fire news officer Amalia Tedeschi on Rai news confirmed that there are "injured people extracted from cars".

"We crossed the bridge around 11.15 am, there was a lot of traffic, cars and especially trucks lined up. It was raining, but we didn't notice anything else strange." It is the story of Sara and Luca, a young couple from Pinerolo who crossed the Morandi bridge in their car just before the tragedy. "We left home this morning - Sara says - to reach Lerici and start our holidays. We read about the collapse on the smartphone, we were speechless also because we traveled that bridge other times". 

Some witnesses who were near the Morando bridge by car before the collapse saw "lightning strike the bridge". "It was just past 11.30 when we saw the lightning strike the bridge and saw the bridge going down." But the circumstance has not been confirmed.

Investigation of multiple homicide and manslaughter 
"We are already ready to open a file for multiple homicide and manslaughter". The chief prosecutor of Genoa, Francesco Cozzi said so. Once opened, the file will be borne by unknown persons, "because we do not yet know the perimeter of the tragedy," said Cozzi. 

Bucci mayor: huge tragedy for our city. Two days of mourning 
"The collapse of the Morandi bridge is a huge tragedy for our city". These are the first words of the mayor Marco Bucci on the collapse of the Morandi highway bridge of the A10. "The Municipality of Genoa is coordinating relief efforts with the Liguria Region and the Fire Brigade. We are focusing on finding any people left under the rubble and making the area safe". This situation will create obvious problems for our city, but we must react immediately with strength and pride. The city is not on its knees, it will be able to react "said Bucci who thanked" the many Italian Municipalities and companies that have made themselves available to help us. "Two days of mourning have been proclaimed.

Mattarella: absurd tragedy, serious examination of causes and responsibilities
" This it is the moment of joint commitment, to face the emergency, to assist the injured, to support those affected by pain, which must be followed by a serious and severe examination of the causes of what has happened. No authority will be able to escape an exercise of full responsibility: the families of the many victims demand it, the communities affected by an event that will leave their mark demand it, the conscience of our national society demands it ", the head of state writes in a note , Sergio Mattarella.

Prime Minister Conte in Genoa. "Government close to the families of the victims"
The Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, was on the scene on the scene of the disaster, then in the Prefecture to follow the developments of the collapse of the Morandi bridge. "A tragedy that questions everyone, we must make sure that it cannot be repeated," he told reporters. The premier, learned from Palazzo Chigi, will also remain in the Ligurian capital on Wednesday. Previously he thanked "the rescue machine which, as always, was activated promptly and continues to operate with great humanity and professionalism", in a post in which he says "deeply affected by the tragedy that affected Genoa" and expresses the " closeness of the whole government to the victims of this tragedy and to their families ".

Conte: "
Serious injury for all of Italy", via infrastructure monitoring plan  "We finished the summit and examined the state of emergency: it is a serious injury for Genoa, Liguria and Italy. I spoke with the European leaders, it is it was comforting to have their support. I thank the rescuers, who will continue to work all night, "said Prime Minister Conte at the end of the summit in the prefecture in Genoa. The president also announced "an extraordinary plan to monitor all infrastructure especially the older ones. The controls will be very strict because we cannot afford other tragedies like this."

Di Maio: I'm going on the spot, the state next to the families
"The whole government, in particular the transport minister Danilo Toninelli, is following closely what is happening in Genoa. It is a huge tragedy. The rescuers are incessantly at work and there I thank you for their commitment. I am going to the place because the state, at this moment, must make its closeness felt and be close first of all to the families of the victims ". So the vice premier Luigi Di Maio on Facebook.

Toti: now we need special powers
"I think we need an extraordinary commissioner with special powers or something else to manage this dramatic situation. We are talking about a 'knot' that is not from Genoa or Liguria, but is fundamental for Italy" , the governor of Liguria, Giovanni Toti, told Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte during a meeting in the prefecture. "If we look at the numbers of goods and passengers of the Genoese ports that affect national logistics, we quickly understand that this, from an economic point of view, is likely to be a disaster for the Italian economy," Toti told Conte.
"Extraordinary legislative action will be needed for restoration work," he added. 

Toninelli: those responsible will pay until the last minute
The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Danilo Toninelli commented on Twitter "a huge tragedy". And announces that tomorrow it will be in place. It seems that "the maintenance had been done but it cannot be like this. These tragedies cannot happen in a civilized country like Italy. Maintenance comes first and all those responsible will have to pay until the last minute".

I am following with the greatest apprehension what happened to #Genoa and which is looming as a huge tragedy. We are in close contact with Autostrade and we are going to the place with Deputy Minister Rixi. My total closeness to the city in these hours

- Danilo Toninelli (@DaniloToninelli) August 14, 2018
The bridge subject to maintenance for some time 
The collapsed bridge in Genoa was subject to "maintenance for some time and had some problems". This is what the undersecretary for infrastructures, Edoardo Rixi, said in an interview with 'Rainews'. "It is a real tragedy," added the Ligurian League official. "Trucks and cars have made a 70-meter flight," he explained, "there are numerous victims, even some survivors, are clearing houses." With the rescuers on the site of the collapse of the Morandi Bridge, the undersecretary then commented: "A dramatic scenario. My thanks go to the police, the fire brigade, the municipal police, the civil protection and all the people committed to helping cities and people involved. "

Salvini: "We will ascertain responsibility"
Interior Minister Matteo Salvini in Rome in the morning followed the story in the fire department's operations room. "We are following the situation minute by minute. I thank the 200 firefighters (and all the other heroes) who are working to save lives from now on," writes the vice premier posting photos from the Fire Brigade Operations Center at the Interior on Twitter. And then he adds: "We will go all the way to ascertain the responsibilities of this huge disaster". "I have crossed that bridge hundreds of times, but now as an Italian citizen I will do everything to have the names and surnames of those responsible past and present. It is unacceptable that in Italy we die like this ...". On the death toll he added: "Unfortunately, we are about thirty confirmed and injured dead even in serious conditions". 

Cardinal Bagnasco: "Pain and bewilderment"
"A great tragedy that leaves everyone lost and grieved". The Archbishop of Genoa, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco says it, speaking of the collapse of the Morandi bridge, and expressing "pain for the victims and closeness to families and the injured". "I hope that the city has the strength and courage to stand up and look forward together. This is a moment of mourning and prayer, but I trust that consolation can descend on everyone. Although wounded, Genoa does not bend under this blow, and as it was for the floods and other tragedies, you find the best strength to recompact and move forward. " And he announces that "the diocese will offer initial hospitality to all those displaced by the collapse".

Closed junction A10-A7, traffic blocked 
Autostrade signals on its site on the A10 Genoa-Savona the section between the junction A7 Milan-Genoa and Genoa Airport has been closed in both directions. On the A10 Genova-Savona between the junction for the A7 Genova-Serravalle and Genova Aereoporto, the section was closed in both directions. Traffic is blocked with queues inside the closed section. Furthermore, for this reason queues have formed on the a12 Genoa-Rosignano Marittimo towards Genoa between Genoa ESt and the junction for the A7 towards Genoa and on the A7 between Bolzaneto and the junction for the A10 Genoa-Savona. 

Single-track Genoa-Milan railway line
 The collapse of the Morandi A10 motorway bridge has caused slowdowns in railway traffic in Liguria. The Genoa-Milan line was reactivated on a single track in the section near the accident, which caused slowdowns as in the section from Piazza Principe station in Arquata Scrivia towards Turin and some cancellations of regional trains. On the Ovada-Genova Piazza Principe line, traffic was suspended between Genova Borzoli and Genova Piazza Principe.