Bridge collapses in Colombia killing at least nine (video)

A motorway bridge under construction collapsed in central Colombia on Monday, January 15, killing at least nine workers and injuring another five.

The suspension bridge, located in Chirajara on the border of Cundinamarca and Meta provinces, was to be part of the highway that connects Bogota, the capital of Colombia, and the city of Villavicencio. It was not yet in public use.

Construction officials said that fortunately not many workers were on the bridge at the time of the collapse, as staff were receiving a safety briefing.

A video from the scene after the incident shows a large part of the 450m-long bridge lying in the canyon below. The cause of the collapse is under investigation, according to Reinaldo Romero, head of disaster response for Meta province.

The bridge was due to be finished in June, officials said. It is part of an ambitious program to improve the route leading from Bogotá to the eastern plains, by turning parts of it into a dual carriageway. The planned works include the construction of 18 new tunnels and 42 bridges and viaducts as well as new lighting and CCTV cameras.