[CaptainRich]

Let's all hope and pray for those involved in the highway collapse in Minnesota.

[nauticalstar420]

Oh my gosh I didn't hear about that, how did it happen?

[J_9]

It is on Fox News. A double decker bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed.

[nauticalstar420]

Wow, I'm going to have to turn that on after the hubby's done watching his movie.

[J_9]

We have a member here in that area, however, luckily she and her family are safely at home.

[nauticalstar420]

Thank God! Do you know what caused the collapse? And how many people weren't as lucky as that member and her family?

[CaptainRich]

There is no specific fault at this time, although it does look like it was an accident. Some say construction caused weakening, perhaps a prior barge or boat traffic striking a bridge abutment... too early to be sure. I don't understand how it became a string of subsequent failures. A single point failure shouldn't take down the whole span.

[nauticalstar420]

I am watching right now, and all I can say is, oh my god.

[Nez]

I'm in the UK,and only heard about it minutes ago,after returning home from work.BBC News,CNN,are all carrying the bad news.I heard the local mayor? State that the bridge had "a unique design",and was given "a clean bill of health last year".I have just seen video camera footage of the moment of collapse.It is beyond belief.My heart goes out to all the victims,and their families.

[nauticalstar420]

They said that the bridge was under construction, but stated all they were doing was repaving and that shouldn't have been the kind of construction to cause the bridge to fall.

[Canada_Sweety]

Omgsh! That's awful. I live in Canada but I'll still be praying for those involved.

[Synnen]

It's not a double decker bridge, but it IS one of the few bridges across the river that could handle heavy traffic--4 lanes, each direction.

We keep getting conflicting reports here in the Twin Cities, and last I heard the death count was 9, with 20-30 still missing.

Thankfully, our friends and family are all safe, but our hearts go out to those still waiting and wondering, and those who have been notified of their loss(es).

It sounds horrible, but all I could think of last night was "Thank god it happened during the summer!" Had it been winter, with subzero weather, or had it been in 2 weeks when school starts, it would have been sooooo much worse. That exit, just off the bridge, is the exit to the University of Minnesota, so 2 more weeks would have had cars lined up with people trying to exit to the U, even at that time of day.

As I get more (local) information, I'd be glad to post it here.

[nauticalstar420]

The pictures of it are just absolutely terrible, but from what I heard on Fox News there are a LOT of survivors. Last I checked there were 6 that passed.

[firmbeliever]

The pictures of it are just absolutely terrible, but from what I heard on Fox News there are a LOT of survivors. Last I checked there were 6 that passed.

From what I heard on Sky News, Channel News Asia etc the death toll was around 9-10... but lots injured

[J_9]

Maybe so Firmbeliever, but Synnen lives there, she has the most recent news I am sure. I had to call her last night just to make sure she was okay.

[nauticalstar420]

From what I heard on Sky News, Channel News Asia etc the death toll was around 9-10....but lots injured

I just turned it off and the death toll was updated to 30 I believe. This is so terrible.

[J_9]

Up to 30 now? Wow!! I have not seen the news all day. Rainy and the kids have cartoons on.

[nauticalstar420]

Up to 30 now? Wow!!! I have not seen the news all day. Rainy and the kids have cartoons on.

That's what it said right before I turned it off. And they said that there are also still some people trapped in all that mess too.

[CaptainRich]

It's not a double decker bridge, but it IS one of the few bridges across the river that could handle heavy traffic--4 lanes, each direction.

We keep getting conflicting reports here in the Twin Cities, and last I heard the death count was 9, with 20-30 still missing.

Thankfully, our friends and family are all safe, but our hearts go out to those still waiting and wondering, and those who have been notified of their loss(es).

It sounds horrible, but all I could think of last night was "Thank god it happened during the summer!" Had it been winter, with subzero weather, or had it been in 2 weeks when school starts, it would have been sooooo much worse. That exit, just off the bridge, is the exit to the University of Minnesota, so 2 more weeks would have had cars lined up with people trying to exit to the U, even at that time of day.

As I get more (local) information, I'd be glad to post it here.

And thank God there were lane closures due to the construction and traffic count was relatively low and moving slowly. If all the lanes had been open in both directions and traffic moving at normal speed, the loss of life could have been much greater.

.

[firmbeliever]

I haven't seen the news tonight yet...
It is a tragedy...
A lesson for us all,that time really does not wait for us to catch up...
All those there must have been driving to someplace and not even realising it is their last moments...