A SPANISH tourist who was crossing the Morandi bridge in Genoa, Italy when it collapsed killing 39 people says he feels as though he has been 'born again'.
Pedro Barthe, from Asturias, was driving away from the airport on the Italian Riviera with his cousin and was just embarking on the 1.2-kilometre bridge when it snapped in half.
“We missed it by a miracle,” a shaken Barthe says.
The two men were less than a kilometre from the point of collapse when they were ground to a halt, meaning a matter of seconds made the difference between life and death.
According to an interview in the El Comercio newspaper based in Gijón (Asturias), the pair were close enough to the scene to watch dozens of lorries and cars plunging 90 metres down onto the rail tracks, river and buildings below.
The Spaniards describe the aftermath as 'total chaos' and say 'ambulances and fire engines just never stopped coming'.
Rescue workers are still searching for victims beneath the rubble after the bridge crumbled yesterday at noon, whilst authorities are attempting to identify the deceased.
So far, 19 have been named and another 20 remain anonymous.
At first, it was believed the bridge had fallen down as a result of the heavy rain, but moments after the disaster, the franchise firm in charge of motorway maintenance and management, Autoestrade per l'Italia – a holding of the larger corporation Atlantia – announced it had been carrying out works on the viaduct to strengthen the surface and that the underside was propped up at the time.
It is now thought that the 200 metres of road which broke up underneath the wheels of nearly 100 vehicles was suffering from serious structural defects, although it has not been confirmed as yet whether this is due to poor design, faulty workmanship, defective materials or general wear and tear.
But in answer to questions about why it was not closed to traffic during the construction operation, Autoestrade per l'Italia insists that despite the maintenance work under way, the bridge 'was not in a dangeorus condition'.
A dual carriageway which runs above an industrial and commercial district, the bridge – named after its original designer, Riccardo Morandi – connects the A-10 motorway to the Genoa Ovest (Genoa West) toll booths en route to the port and ferry terminals.
As it acts as a link road to the A7 north towards Milan and to the French border, the Morandi bridge is one of the most heavily-frequented highways in the country.
It was built between 1963 and 1967 by the Italian Oleoduct Society and formally unveiled on September 4, 1967 – or nearly 51 years ago.
A complete restructure was carried out in 2016.
The disaster has opened a debate in Italy over the state of its highways and the national government has pledged to hold those in charge accountable.
“As an Italian, I will do everything in my hands to get names and surnames of those responsible, past and present,” says president Matteo Salvini.
The bridge is a toll road, meaning the toll firm uses fees charged to maintain, repair and reinforce it.
“It's one of the most expensive stretches of road in Italy,” Salvini said.
“If someone's been making a profit and not carrying out the necessary maintenance, they need to be held accountable.
“A bridge of this type doesn't just fall down because of a lightning strike or a storm, and those responsible for this need to be identified.”
Chief prosecutor for Genoa, Francesco Cozzi, has announced he will launch a 'multiple homicide' and 'negligent catastrophe' inquiry.
As well as the 39 dead, another 432 residents living or working in 11 blocks nearby have been evacuated due to the possible risk of imminent collapse.
So far, 15 people are known to be injured, nine of whom are in a critical condition.
