Italy Bridge Collapse: Italy mourns victims of Genoa bridge collapse with state funeral

World
Europe

03:20

Italy is mourning those who died in a bridge collapse in Genoa. The death toll has risen to 43 after 4 more bodies were found in the rubble. Relatives and friends gathered at the state funeral, as investigators search for the cause. CGTN's Natalie Carney has the latest from Genoa.

Their caskets sat surrounded by those who loved them most. 19 in total, including two Albanians and one French national who was in Italy on holiday with his friends.

ANGELO BAGNASCO GENOA'S ARCHBISHOP "The collapse of the Morandi bridge over the Polcevera river created a gash in the heart of Genoa. The wound is deep, it is made above all by the endless pain for those who have lost their lives and for the missing, for their family members, the wounded, the many displaced."

Both Christian and Muslim prayers were offered, reflecting the religious diversity of the dead. Family, friends, colleagues, complete strangers, all devastated about what the Italian President called an "absurd catastrophe".

Many are still in shock.

COUSIN OF VICTIM EDI BOKRINA "We still do not want to believe it. We still have to realize what happened. It will be more painful later."

Members of the search and rescue teams were given standing ovations, while former members of government were booed. Many feel they failed to give the country's ailing infrastructure the financial attention it needed.

NATALIE CARNEY GENOA "While the names of the 19 victims being laid to rest in this state funeral are being read out, some of the families of other victims, blame the government for the horrific event that took place here in Genoa on Tuesday morning. The government points the finger at the private company contracted to maintain the bridge, Autostrade Per L'Italia."

Following the state funeral, Autostrade promised around 572 million dollars towards reconstruction and compensation to those directly affected by the tragedy, but stopped short of taking any responsibility, saying the bridge was "safe".

GIOVANNI CASTELLUCCI CEO, AUTOSTRADE PER L'ITALIA "The technical situation is so complex that it's up to justice to understand what happened and why and under which conditions. so I can only repeat that we will do whatever we can to help justice to go fast and deep. This is the only thing we can give to the justice system but on top of this, we really suffer together."

The government is threatening to revoke the company's contract. The transport and infrastructure commission looking into the cause of the collapse has said a broken cable rod maybe to blame for the bridge coming down.

Yet, these grieving family members are demanding more than just an explanation, they want action.

FAMILY MEMBER OF A VICTIM "We hope that justice will win! President Mattarella gave us his condolences and we have been pleased of his presence. But his attendance is not enough, we need results, not only for our son, for everyone."

Meanwhile, early Saturday morning, a family of three including a nine-year-old girl was pulled out of the rubble followed by another body rescuers describe as a 30 -year -old man believed to be the last missing person. Natalie Carney, CGTN, Genoa.