At least four dead, 30 missing in US bridge collapse

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (AFP) - The murky, swirling waters of the Mississippi river hampered the work of divers yesterday searching for up to 30 people still missing after a huge bridge collapsed late Wednesday, killing at least four.

The currents were "hampering the rescue efforts" as divers tried to recover bodies believed to be still trapped underwater, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty told reporters yesterday afternoon.

"The recovery team and leaders have determined that they're going to do this as quickly as possible, but they can't do it as risking the lives of the searchers and the divers," he said.

Officials expected the death toll to rise, with dozens of cars and trucks dumped in the river after massive sections of the eight-lane bridge roadway crashed into it Wednesday evening in this midwestern US city.

Questions mounted meanwhile about the safety of the bridge, which inspectors had previously declared to have "structural deficiencies" but not in urgent need of replacement.

Doctors cited by media said at least 79 people were taken to hospital. After four hours of frantic rescue efforts before nightfall Wednesday, fire chief Jim Clack said it was unlikely any more survivors would be found.

Minneapolis police chief Tim Dolan said rescuers had described "people that were pinned, people that were partly crushed" at the recovery scene where some 50 vehicles were submerged and trapped under debris in the fast-flowing river.

"It's going to be a very, very dangerous scene for some time," he told reporters.

The bridge was reduced to a wreck of twisted metal and concrete, scattered with cars and trucks.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said a 2005 federal report found "structural deficiencies" in the bridge which the state was responsible for repairing. It was part of a major highway and bore over 100,000 vehicles daily.