Collapse of Dresden Bridge Halts Traffic
A segment of the Carola Bridge in Dresden, Germany has fallen into the River Elbe, leading to traffic congestion in the area and causing water pipes to burst. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Traffic redirections and halted river traffic ensued when a segment of the Carola Bridge collapsed into the Elbe River.
In an early morning incident in Dresden, Germany, a 100-meter portion of a bridge succumbed, heavily disrupting local transport and causing damage to utility lines, authorities confirmed. Fortunately, there were no injuries as the collapse occurred shortly after a tram had cleared the area.
Local law enforcement officers reported a loud noise around 2:59 am. By the time they arrived at the scene at 3:01 am, the bridge section had already crumbled, according to a statement given to Bild. A streetcar had narrowly missed disaster, having crossed the now-fallen section at approximately 2:50 am, as per the magazine's report.
Online security footage captured the moment of the collapse, showing a cloud resembling dust and steam. The fallen bridge section, which included a pedestrian path, bicycle lane, and tram tracks, plummeted into the River Elbe.
Further reports uncovered that, in addition to structural damage, the collapse had other immediate impacts. "In addition, due to the bursting of two large district heating pipes, we have the problem that the supply of hot water has come to a complete standstill in the entire state capital of Dresden," stated fire brigade spokesperson Michael Klahre, also highlighting potential risks of further structural failures.
The collapse also led to water heated up to 115C spilling into nearby areas, as reported by Bild.
In response to the bridge's partial collapse, Dresden's municipal transport company, DVB, indicated on X that streetcar routes have been altered. While this bridge is one of four spanning the Elbe in central Dresden, this incident necessitated a pause in river traffic, city officials mentioned.
The exact reason for the bridge failing has not yet been established, and emergency response teams are active on site.
Concerns about the nation's infrastructure had previously been raised in June when Deutsche Welle reported an urgent need for repairs across approximately 5,000 highway bridges in Germany. Concurrently, construction associations warned that impending federal budget cuts could significantly hinder infrastructure maintenance.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
In an early morning incident in Dresden, Germany, a 100-meter portion of a bridge succumbed, heavily disrupting local transport and causing damage to utility lines, authorities confirmed. Fortunately, there were no injuries as the collapse occurred shortly after a tram had cleared the area.
Local law enforcement officers reported a loud noise around 2:59 am. By the time they arrived at the scene at 3:01 am, the bridge section had already crumbled, according to a statement given to Bild. A streetcar had narrowly missed disaster, having crossed the now-fallen section at approximately 2:50 am, as per the magazine's report.
Online security footage captured the moment of the collapse, showing a cloud resembling dust and steam. The fallen bridge section, which included a pedestrian path, bicycle lane, and tram tracks, plummeted into the River Elbe.
Further reports uncovered that, in addition to structural damage, the collapse had other immediate impacts. "In addition, due to the bursting of two large district heating pipes, we have the problem that the supply of hot water has come to a complete standstill in the entire state capital of Dresden," stated fire brigade spokesperson Michael Klahre, also highlighting potential risks of further structural failures.
The collapse also led to water heated up to 115C spilling into nearby areas, as reported by Bild.
In response to the bridge's partial collapse, Dresden's municipal transport company, DVB, indicated on X that streetcar routes have been altered. While this bridge is one of four spanning the Elbe in central Dresden, this incident necessitated a pause in river traffic, city officials mentioned.
The exact reason for the bridge failing has not yet been established, and emergency response teams are active on site.
Concerns about the nation's infrastructure had previously been raised in June when Deutsche Welle reported an urgent need for repairs across approximately 5,000 highway bridges in Germany. Concurrently, construction associations warned that impending federal budget cuts could significantly hinder infrastructure maintenance.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
