To Italy now, where search and rescue teams continue to comb through the rubble of the collapsed Morandi Bridge, four days after a 200-meter stretch crumbled to the ground, killing 39 people. Hundreds have been evacuated from the area over fears the remaining structure could also fall. They have not been told when or even if they can return home. CGTN's Natalie Carney has the latest from Genoa.

It can't be easy leaving all you know behind. Especially when the future is so uncertain. More than 600 people have been evacuated from 13 buildings around the Morandi Bridge following its collapse in Genoa on Tuesday. With little notice, most simply grabbed what they could and left.

NATALIE CARNEY GENOA "This is life frozen in time. Building after building evacuated. Some with laundry still hanging off the balcony."

Many are asking why was the bridge built so close to these homes. Officials fear what remains of the Morandi Bridge could also come crashing down, so they have set up radar technology to monitor any movement.

NATALIE CARNEY GENOA "Some of the evacuees have been put up in hotels. Some are staying with family and friends; others are here, a municipal sports center, where psychologists and local staff are trying to deal with their sudden misfortune."

72-year-old Vanda Natalina has been living in the neighbourhood since she was five years old.

VANDA NATALINA EVACUEE "They built this bridge when I was 16. At that time, it looked like a work of science fiction. There were so many inconveniences including lots of damage to our buildings, especially for the apartments near the pylons."

Robert Rendon and his family who lived right underneath the bridge, witnessed the horrific event.

ROBERT RENDON EVACUEE "My daughter started crying. She went outside and the bridge was gone. There was so much dust there was noise and then ambulances, helicopters."

On Friday, both the governor of Liguria, Giovanni Toti and the mayor of Genoa, Marco Bucci visited evacuees. According to Bucci, more than five-and-a-half million dollars has already been given to the city to help it rebuild. But he says he will ask for much more to ensure evacuees are taken care of.

MARCO BUCCI MAYOR OF GENOA "Next Monday, we are going to have 45 apartments available. In two weeks we'll have another 40 available. The plan right now, let's say in three-month maximum, we will have everyone in a new apartment."

The government says the entire bridge will be rebuilt as well as new transport links across the city. But that's little consolation to those who simply want to return home. Meanwhile, the families of 17 people who died in the tragedy have refused to take part in a public funeral planned for Saturday, blaming the government for not doing enough to avoid this disaster. Natalie Carney, CGTN, Genoa.