Traffic was diverted and boat traffic was stopped after a 100-metre section of the Carola Bridge in central Dresden collapsed into the River Elbe.
A 100-metre section of a bridge collapsed in the German city of Dresden early Wednesday morning, causing severe traffic congestion and damaging water pipes, local authorities said.
According to Bild, no one was injured in the incident, although a tram had driven over the Carola Bridge a few minutes before the collapse.
Local police said officers heard a loud noise around 2:59 a.m. By the time officers arrived, a section of the bridge had completely collapsed, a spokesman told the publication.
CCTV footage captured the moment of collapse, accompanied by a release of dust and steam. Part of the structure with a pedestrian path, a bicycle path and two tram tracks over 100 meters long fell into the Elbe River.
Read more about #Dresden Bridge collapse Yesterday evening at 2:59 local time in Dresden there was a loud noise, after which part of the Carola Bridge in Dresden collapsed into the water. By a lucky coincidence, no one was injured, although a passenger tram had passed just 9 m earlier pic.twitter.com/5K9JKd4NRF
— Arthur Morgan (@ArthurM40330824) September 11, 2024
“In addition, due to the rupture of two large central heating pipes, the problem of a complete shutdown of hot water supply in the entire state capital of Dresden has arisen,” Fire brigade spokesman Michael Klaret warned of the risk of further collapse in a statement later in the day.
According to Bild, water with a temperature of 115 degrees Celsius burst out of the pipeline and gushed into the surrounding area.
Tram and car traffic will be changed, the municipal transport company DVB reported on channel X.
Although the Carola is one of four bridges across the Elbe in the center of Dresden, the regional capital, river traffic has been suspended indefinitely, city officials said.
In June, Deutsche Welle warned that some 5,000 highway bridges in the country were in urgent need of repair. That same month, several German construction associations warned that planned federal budget cuts could prove “fatal” into the country's infrastructure.
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