Florida bridge collapse: shocking footage shows moment bridge collapses, killing six - as search for survivors is called off

Authorities vowed to hold those responsible accountable after six people were killed
Chloe Chaplain16 March 2018

This shocking footage shows the moment a pedestrian bridge collapsed in Florida, leaving six people dead and others fighting for life.

The surveillance footage, posted online, shows the harrowing moment the bridge gives way onto cars below from a CCTV camera trained on a motorway junction at the scene in Miami.

The footage emerged as rescuers called off their efforts to find survivors, saying all dead and wounded had been accounted for.

Claims emerged today that engineers were carrying out work to tighten wires supporting the bridge when the whole thing came crashing to the ground onto cars below.

The moment of the bridge's collapse was captured on CCTV

US Senator for Florida Marco Rubio said: "The cables that suspend the Miami bridge had loosened & the engineering firm ordered that they be tightened. They were being tightened when it collapsed today."

This shocking image shows the seconds after the bridge collapsed in Miami
Twitter

Witnesses have described frantic efforts by rescuers who were desperately trying to drill people free from rubble after the pedestrian bridge collapsed onto a motorway in Miami, killing at least four people.

The bridge crushed several cars and killed at least four people
EPA

The newly-erected bridge spanning several lanes of traffic collapsed at Florida International University on Thursday – flattening cars under slabs of concrete and twisted metal.

Four bodies have been pulled from the wreckage and at least 10 more people have been rushed to hospital.

Two of those taken to hospital are believed to be in a critical condition.

As passers-by described the horror of hearing “terrifying” screams from crushed cars, authorities in Florida vowed to hold those responsible accountable.

Rescue: other drivers dragged people from their crushed cars  
EPA

"If anybody has done anything wrong, we will hold them accountable," said Florida Governor Rick Scott, after his office issued statement saying a company contracted to inspect the bridge was not pre-qualified by the state.

Emergency teams with sniffer dogs this morning called off their search for any further survivors, according to the Miami Herald.

Devastation: The collapsed pedestrian bridge at Florida International University
AP

The 174-feet bridge was installed on Saturday to connect the university with the city of Sweetwater. It was intended to provide a walkway over the busy road where an 18-year-old student was killed while trying to cross last August, according to local media reports.

Witnesses told local media the vehicles were stopped at a traffic light when the bridge collapsed on top of them at around 1:30 pm (5.30pm GMT).

Rescue efforts: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department workers at the scene of the tragedy
Getty Images

Student Aura Martinez was having lunch in a nearby restaurant with her mother when a waitress told her the bridge had collapsed.

She ran outside and helped pull a woman out of her car, most of which was flattened by the bridge.

"Her car, it was literally a miracle of God, her car got squished by the bridge from the back, so she was able to get out and she was on the floor and it was just very traumatic," she told the local CBS affiliate.

Collapse: The bridge had been installed on Saturday over the busy road
REUTERS

Another witness Tiona Page told ABC News that the screams for help coming from cars were "terrifying."

"As soon as I looked outside, I saw dust flying everywhere," she said. "I knew the bridge had collapsed." Bystanders rushed in to help those trapped, but struggled to dig through the rubble.

Suzy Bermudez said she had been sitting in traffic when she saw the bridge collapse from the left and then toward the middle.

She leapt from her car and said that they were able to drag one woman out of her vehicle, that had been smashed on the rear.

FIU student Aleia Stillwell was in her car when the bridge came down in front of her and said it sounded “like thunder”.

Rescue services are still working to create holes in the wreckage to be able to see if anyone is trapped, Miami-Dade Fire Department Division Chief Paul Estopian told reporters.

At one point, police requested television helicopters leave the area so rescuers could hear for any sounds of people crying for help from beneath the collapsed structure, CBS Miami television said.

Complicating the rescue effort was the uncertainty about the integrity of the bridge, parts of which remained off the ground, much of it inclined, local media reported.

Students at FIU are currently on their spring break vacation, which runs from March 12 to March 17.

To keep the inevitable disruption of traffic associated with bridge construction to a minimum, the 174-foot portion of the bridge was built adjacent to Southwest 8th Street using a method called Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC).

It was driven into its perpendicular position across the road by a rig in only six hours on Saturday, according to a statement released by the university.

The $14.2 million bridge was designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, the most dangerous measure by the National Hurricane Center, and built to last 100 years, the university said.

Aftermath: A rescue dog works at the scene where the pedestrian bridge collapsed
Getty Images

The National Transportation Safety Board was sending a team to investigate why it collapsed.

President Donald Trump thanked first responders for their courage on Twitter. Along with Governor Scott, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio went to the scene of the collapse.

The bridge crushed several cars and killed at least four people
EPA

Munilla Construction Management, which installed the bridge was founded in 1983 and owned by five brothers, according to its website.

"Munilla Construction Management is a family business and we are all devastated and doing everything we can to assist," the company said in a statement.

FIGG Engineering said it took part in the bridge project and the collapse was a first in its 40-year history.

Both companies said they would cooperate fully with investigators.

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