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2 die in temporary bridge collapse in Johannesburg

The news channel quotes a construction company as saying the temporary bridge was a support structure being used in the building of a pedestrian bridge over the highway.

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The constuction company said “the exact cause of the incident is not known at this time”.

Emergency Management Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said: “There is a vehicle trapped underneath the bridge, we are working towards the vehicle”.

Mulaudzi told News24 that three vehicles were trapped under the collapsed structure but all the occupants of had been extricated from the vehicles.

A Reuters witness earlier said paramedics on the scene had worked to free people from a mini-bus taxi that had been smashed up by the collapse. “At the moment, we are concentrating on ensuring that if there are any people injured, they are attended to quickly”, said Jardim.

Traffic at a few parts of the highway was reported to be at a standstill.

At least two people were confirmed dead and at least fifteen suffered various degrees of injury as a result of the bridge collapsing.

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About 10,000 people walk or cycle daily between the Sandton district and the Alexandra township, areas which the bridge was created to connect.

South African pedestrian bridge collapses, killing 2