CNN  — 

A large section of a highway bridge in northern Italy collapsed during torrential rains Tuesday, causing a number of fatalities, authorities said.

The Morandi Bridge, also known as the Polcevera Viaduct, is a major thoroughfare, connecting the port of Genoa with Genoa airport and towns along the coast to the west.

This is what the bridge looked like before and after it collapsed.

GOOGLE EARTH/LUCA ZENNARO/ANSA VIA AP
Google Earth/ANDREA LEONI/AFP/Getty Images
Google Earth/Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
Google Earth/Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP
Google Earth/FEDERICO SCOPPA/AFP/Getty Images