At least 22 killed in Italian bridge collapse

By Meg Wagner and Luke McGee

Updated 6:55 p.m. ET, August 14, 2018
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11:22 a.m. ET, August 14, 2018

At least 35 killed in Italy bridge collapse

From CNN’s Vasco Cotovio

The death toll for the bridge collapse in Italy has risen to 35, according to the office of the Governor of the northwestern Liguria region — where Genoa is located.

The office announced it on its official twitter account, quoting unnamed sources from the Fire Department. 

Giovanni Toti, the Governor of Liguria, has been heavily involved in the rescue efforts and had already said at a press conference on Tuesday that he expected the death toll to rise. 

10:57 a.m. ET, August 14, 2018

He wanted to take video of the rain, and unexpectedly captured the bridge collapse

From CNN’s Gianluca Mezzofiore 

Davide Di Giorgio was taking video of today's rain when he captured the moment the bridge collapsed.

He told CNN that he was filming the weather from the window of his office when the bridge gave way.

“I wanted to show my family, who lives on the other side of Genoa, the heavy rain," he said. “As soon as I turned the camera to record the rain, we heard a loud noise and the bridge collapsed. It took me three seconds to realize what happened.”

He added: “My colleagues and I were shaking ... I saw it from the camera of my smartphone so it was unreal."

Watch the footage here:

10:56 a.m. ET, August 14, 2018

Just in: Death toll climbs to 25

From Vasco Cotovio

The death toll for the collapse of the Morandi Bridge has now risen to 25, the office of the Governor of the northwestern Liguria region said on its official twitter account.

See the original tweet below.

10:48 a.m. ET, August 14, 2018

At least 22 killed in bridge collapse

From Eleanora Chiarella

ANDREA LEONI/AFP/Getty Images
ANDREA LEONI/AFP/Getty Images

The death toll for the bridge collapse in Italy has risen to 22, Edoardo Rixi, the Italian deputy minister of infrastructure told reporters at a press conference.

Rixi was speaking at a joint press conference with Giovanni Toti, the governor of the northwestern Liguria region, who added that he expects the death toll to continue to rise.  

10:26 a.m. ET, August 14, 2018

CNN meteorologist: "A series of things" likely went wrong today

 ANDREA LEONI/AFP/Getty Images
 ANDREA LEONI/AFP/Getty Images

CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said heavy rainfall, wind and lightning all may have played a role in this morning's bridge collapse.

“Not one thing ever brings down an airplane. They say it’s always a series of things and I think that this probably had a series of things go wrong this morning.” Myers he said.

Watch more:

10:11 a.m. ET, August 14, 2018

How rescue teams are responding to the bridge collapse

Rescuers are at work amid the rubble of a section of a giant motorway bridge that collapsed in Genoa.
Rescuers are at work amid the rubble of a section of a giant motorway bridge that collapsed in Genoa. ANDREA LEONI/AFP/Getty Images

Rescue teams are on the scene of the bridge collapse near Genoa, Italy.

So far, 240 fire brigade units and rescue teams are working at the bridge, and more are expected to arrive from nearby regions. 

Video showed one rescuer suspended mid-air over the bridge collapse site:

10:02 a.m. ET, August 14, 2018

5 people have severe injuries — but that number could go up

From CNN's Nicola Ruotolo

Angelo Borrelli, the head of the Italian Civil Protection Agency, said at a news conference that 13 people have been injured in the bridge collapse. 

Of the injured victims, five have severe injuries. But that number is expected to be higher as rescue teams remove the rubble, Borrelli said.

Right now, 240 fire brigade units and rescue teams are on the scene, and more are expected to arrive from nearby regions. 

The bridge, near Genoa, collapsed around noon local time. Here's video from the moment it gave way:

 

9:54 a.m. ET, August 14, 2018

"This is a major, major tragedy on a very busy day"

CNN's international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson is in Genoa standing meters from the collapsed Morandi Bridge.

"This is a major, major tragedy here, on a very busy day" Robertson said. "A busy day for tourists, a busy day for locals here. Many likely going out to the coastline, just a few minutes drive from here."

Watch more:

9:47 a.m. ET, August 14, 2018

A bird's-eye view of the rubble from the bridge collapse

An Italian fire brigade shared this arial video of the aftermath following the bridge collapse.

The Morandi Bridge, which lies to the west of the port city of Genoa, gave way earlier today. It's a major thoroughfare, and it links central Genoa with Genoa airport and towns along the coast to the west of the city.

Here's the footage: