Portuguese Divers to Sift River in Bridge Collapse

Published March 7th, 2001 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

Portuguese divers are set to examine objects they think may be sunken vehicles holding 60 bodies from a bridge collapse, reported CNN.  

The navy team located the metal objects by sonar on Tuesday, two days after a bus and several cars plunged into the Douro River near Castelo De Paiva, 300 kilometres (180 miles) north of Lisbon.  

Divers intended to fasten themselves to safety cables suspended from a dredger. "It's going to be a very tricky and dangerous operation," said navy officer Augusto Ezequiel.  

According to CNN, officials could not confirm if the shapes on the sonar screen were the vehicles nor could they say whether bodies were still lodged inside. Divers said low visibility in the muddy water meant they would have to rely on touch to identify the objects.  

"We can't be sure of anything until we have been down to take a look," Ezequiel said.  

Officials estimate that 67 people were killed in Sunday's accident, but remain unsure of the exact toll, CNN added.  

There was no passenger list of the bus and as many as four vehicles may also have fallen into the water – Albawaba.com  

 

© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

Subscribe

Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content