Pope Francis has offered prayers and expressed his closeness to those suffering after a motorway bridge collapsed in the northern Italian city of Genoa yesterday, killing 39 and injuring 15.
In what were described as “apocalyptic” scenes, several cars and a lorry travelling on the Morandi bridge in Genoa fell about 45 metres to the ground when a section of the bridge collapsed during a violent storm on Tuesday (14 August) morning.
Speaking to pilgrims during his Angelus address on the 15 August Feast of the Assumption of Mary, Francis expressed his “spiritual closeness” to the victims’ families, to the wounded and “all those who suffer due to this dramatic event.” He then asked pilgrims to join him in praying a Hail Mary for the victims.
In a statement following the collapse, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, archbishop of Genoa said he was “profoundly shaken by the immense disaster.”
The event “has wounded the city,” he said, adding that the Church in Genoa “weeps” for all those who have lost their lives.
Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti of Perugia said what should have been days of relaxation during summer holidays “are instead bloodied by a new drama, which heavily wounds entire families and communities.”
He offered his prayer and solidarity “during these painful hours,” and expressed his closeness to Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco.
“We are close not only to Bagnasco, but to his Church and his city, to the rescue workers and all those who are in mourning or anxiety for the loss of their loved ones,” he continued.
Over 200 firefighters, aided by sniffer dogs, have found 16 injured in the wreckage of the bridge. A Genoa police official said last night that the operation remains an “active rescue”. Today, only bodies have been found, the Red Cross has reported.
The four-lane Morandi motorway bridge, which is over 1,100m long, was built between 1963 and 1967.
Italy’s Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, on arrival into Genoa last night said: “It’s too early to talk about the causes and hypothesis, but one thing is for certain: a tragedy of this kind cannot be repeated.”
Italian president, Sergio Mattarella, said in a statement of condolence that all Italians should be guaranteed the right “to modern and efficient infrastructure that accompanies everyday life.”