Woman killed, five injured as road bridge collapses onto railway tracks in western Russia
Local officials in the Smolensk region report that a road bridge collapsed onto railway tracks in the town of Vyazma, resulting in the death of a woman and injuring five others. Following the incident on Monday, all train traffic was suspended. Additionally, approximately 8,000 households lost gas supply due to damaged pipelines.
The cause of the collapse of the Paninsky overpass is under investigation, with one news channel suggesting it was likely due to its age. According to reports, local residents had repeatedly urged authorities to repair the overpass.
It is believed that several vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Images from the scene showed an overturned car and a lorry. Regional Governor Vasiliy Anokhin stated that six of the bridge’s seven spans collapsed.
Three of the injured individuals were transported to Moscow, while a 14-year-old girl received treatment at a local hospital. Governor Anokhin expressed condolences to the family and friends of the deceased woman via social media.
Emergency personnel, numbering over 160, are working overnight to restore train traffic as quickly as possible.