Authorities are investigating the cause of a partial bridge collapse in Dresden, Germany, early Wednesday morning. The incident has disrupted a major traffic artery in the city and interrupted the heating system for the area known as “Florence on the Elbe” due to its Baroque architecture.
The Dresden fire department reported that no injuries occurred when a section of the Carola Bridge fell into the Elbe River. The German news agency dpa stated that the collapse is being treated as an accident, with no evidence of foul play.
According to dpa, the bridge dates back to the era of East Germany’s communist rule. Officials at the scene suggested that chlorine corrosion from that period could have contributed to the collapse.
The emergency closure of the entire bridge has caused significant travel disruptions for Dresden’s tram system, as well as motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists who use the bridge to travel between the Old Town and New Town. Boat traffic has also been halted, affecting cargo ships and tourism sightseeing vessels.
Emergency crews were alerted shortly after 3 a.m. and are concerned that more of the bridge, one of several crossings over the Elbe, could collapse in the coming hours.
dpa reported that the last tram crossed the bridge just 18 minutes before the collapse. The section that fell was scheduled for renovation next year, while other parts had only recently reopened in March after months of construction.
Pipes connected to the city’s heating system were also damaged.
“Furthermore, due to the rupture of two large district heating pipes, the entire state capital of Dresden is experiencing a complete shutdown of hot water supply,” fire department spokesman Michael Klahre told reporters.
Dresden is located approximately 100 miles south of Berlin.