Italy Bridge Collapse: Audio released revealing catastrophic moment

World
Europe

02:50

To Italy, some of the emergency calls placed during a bridge collapse in Genoa have been released. They reveal the haunting moments of the 200-meter-long section of the bridge crashing down. 39 people have been confirmed dead, and up to 20 people could still be trapped under the rubble. CGTN's Natalie Carney has more from the scene.

The horrific accident took place on this important European highway Tuesday morning during a heavy storm.

The company Autostrade per l'Italia, has come under fire for its handling of the operations of the bridge, yet according to the director of transport economics at the University of Genoa, the collapse is likely the result of two factors.

ENRICO MUSSO, DIRECTOR TRANSPORT ECONOMICS, UNIVERSITY OF GENOA "There could be some fault of Autostrade for not doing the proper maintenance. So poor maintenance activity, but on the other side there has been poor political activity in terms of not planning the alternatives in Infrastructure."

The Morandi Bridge, opened in 1967, is one of Italy's most critical transit links with traffic flows now exceeding its original design.

Truck driver Luciano Goccia walked away from the collapse with only a broken arm and a concussion, but his vehicle was totalled.

Others were not as lucky.

NATALIE CARNEY GENOA, ITALY "The names and faces of those who lost their lives on the bridge so far are being released. They include Italians, foreign workers, tourists, and of course many locals to the area including 47-year-old Andrea Cerulli who was on his way to work here at this Genoa port when the bridge came down."

ANTONIO BENVENUTI PRESIDENT OF UNICA PORT COMPANY "He received a message to go to work in Voltri on the other side of the port. He would have started his shift at midday. So he would have left here, like other colleagues, around 11, 11:15 am. We are very very sad. We are in mourning and I see that the other boys feel it too."

The bridge came down around 11:30 local time. Andrea, a huge football fan, left behind a loving wife and a gorgeous baby boy, along with more than 1000 colleagues he called family.

Many believe the accident could have been avoided.

ANTONIO BENVENUTI PRESIDENT OF UNICA PORT COMPANY "The traffic on the bridge had increased more than 10 times in the last ten years. That bridge became important and crucial for all trucks and vehicles to get back and forth. Before the collapse, it was obvious -- this being subject to such tension -- that this would happen."

A mass public funeral has been scheduled for Saturday, but the number of bodies that will be present is still uncertain, as more heavy duty machinery is brought in for rescue crews to continue their search for anyone still remaining underneath the rubble.

Natalie Carney, CGTN, Genoa.