Italy has declared a 12-month state of emergency after a bridge collapse in Genoa killed nearly 40 people.
Ro Aram reports.
The 50-year-old Morandi Bridge was said to have collapsed during torrential rain on Tuesday, dropping dozens of cars from a height of 45 meters.
The bridge was a vital link of a highway that connects northwestern Italy to the south of France.
The collapse has sparked a furious reaction from the public and the government over how such a crucial piece of infrastructure could simply give way.
Although the exact cause is not yet known, most of the blame is being pointed at Autostrade, the private firm responsible for operating the bridge and most of Italy's highways.
There have been calls for the CEO to resign for negligent homicide.
Following a Cabinet meeting in Genoa, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte declared a 12-month state of emergency, saying his government won't wait until prosecutors finish investigating the incident to revoke Autostrade's concession.
He also vowed to make sure similar incidents do not occur again.
(Italian) Reuters Edit No 3098
"……..These are unacceptable tragedies that should not happen in a modern society. This government will do everything to prevent such tragedies from happening again."
Meanwhile, Autostrade said the bridge was constantly monitored beyond legal requirements.
It added in a statement that work was being done to shore up the bridge's foundation that had been worn down due to heavy traffic, but it said a car bridge had been installed to allow maintenance activities to be carried out.
The safety of Italian infrastructure has been the subject of a long-standing debate and Tuesday's collapse came after years of warnings from experts advising against the structure.
Ro Aram, Arirang News.
