Following a cabinet meeting held in the city of Genoa, Prime Minister Conte said: "We agreed to his request to declare a state of emergency in Ligura for 12 months due to the events of yesterday morning... and we decided to release €5m from the national emergency fund for immediate needs."<doc-sep>I talian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has declared a 12-month state of emergency in Genoa amid a fierce backlash to the motorway bridge collapse which killed at least 39 . Prosecutors are focusing their investigation on possible design flaws or inadequate maintenance as citizens and politicians look for someone to blame. Fears are rising that a part of the Morandi Bridge which is still standing could also coming crashing down. Authorities have widened their evacuation to include some 630 people living near the highway bridge that was carved in two by the collapse of its mid-section during a violent storm. Genoa Bridge Collapse - In pictures 1 /40 Genoa Bridge Collapse - In pictures A green lorry stopped just short of the point of collapse on the bridge Reuters A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa EPA Firefighters work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi motorway bridge in Genoa AP A general view of the collapsed Morandi Bridge in the port city of Genoa, Ital REUTERS Rescuer workers continued to search for possible survivors EPA Devastating images showed the aftermath of the bridge collapse Getty Images A helicopter arrives at the scene of the tragedy AFP/Getty Images Rescue teams search for survivors among the rubble AP An injured person is winched from the rubble AFP/Getty Images Emergency services are desperately searching for survivors Getty Images Helicopter crews arrive on the scene of the collapse Getty Images A map shows where the bridge is Reuters An injured man talks to reporters as he leave the site where the Morandi highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, northern Italy AP A truck pictured after falling from the bridge Getty Images The Morandi Bridge collapsed in torrential rain Reuters Fire crews released images of rescuers on site EPA A desperate search for survivors is underway EPA Rescue workers are seen at the collapsed Morandi Bridge in the Italian port city of Genoa, Italy Reuters Rescuers at the site of the collapsed bridge in Genoa EPA A collapsed section of a viaduct on the A10 motorway in Genoa AFP/Getty Images The middle section of the main bridge collapsed, with dozens of motorists feared to be dead EPA A truck is pictured at the end of the surviving bridge section Reuters Rescue work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa AP Rescuers at the site of the collapsed bridge in Genoa, Italy EPA A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern Italy AP Rescuers work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern Italy AP The bridge is located near the northern Italian port city of Genoa Polizia di Stato A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA Rescue teams on the site of the collapsed bridge EPA Rescuers at work amid the rubble after a highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa EPA The collapsed Morandi Bridge is seen in the Italian port city of Genoa Reuters A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA A collapsed section of a viaduct on the A10 motorway in Genoa AFP/Getty Images Rescuers work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern ItalY AP Rescuers work among the rubble of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge in Genoa, northern Italy, AP Rescue teams work at the site of the bridge collapse EPA The bridge was built in the 1960s EPA A motorway bridge which collapsed on Tuesday near the northern Italian port city of Genoa is seen in this pic Polizia di Stato Polizia di Stato A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA It comes as a pregnant woman revealed her boyfriend survived the bridge collapse by clinging to wires 65 ft above the ground. Giulia Organo said Gianluca Ardini held on for hours because thinking about their unborn baby “gave him the strength to survive”. Three children are reported to have died in the collapse / EPA Ms Organo told Telenord: “I have no words about what happened as I can only think this is a miracle. "I can't even begin to imagine what he went through as he was suspended in the air to some wires from 20m from the ground for several hours with all his strength.” Genoa: Rescuer workers continued to search for possible survivors overnight / EPA Mr Ardini, a video games salesman, had been carrying out deliveries when he drove across the bridge. His colleague died in the collapse. An Italian footballer who fell 150 ft from the bridge has also told how he miraculously survived . Davide Capello, 33, was rescued from his smashed car at the bottom of the overpass, after riding on a piece of concrete as he fell from the bridge. The 37-year-old father, who has not been named, told rescuers: “I saw the road collapsing, with all the cars that I had in front of me at the time.” A body is airlifted from the rubble of the collapsed bridge in Genoa Around 1,000 rescue workers are continuing to search through tonnes of rubble for any more bodies. Some of the debris that rained down from the bridge landed in a dry stream bed, while other wreckage came crashing down perilously close to apartment buildings. At one point, Sky TG24 said residents were temporarily stopped from even returning to their homes briefly to grab essential documents, medicine or other necessities. At least 39 people have died following the collapse of the Morandi Bridge / AP Besides searching through the mountain of debris, emergency workers said it must be cleared away as soon as possible. Genoa is a flood-prone city, and authorities warned that the piles in the dry riverbed could become a dam in a matter of hours if heavy rains arrive.<doc-sep>Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte arrives to inspect the site of the collapsed Morandi Bridge in the port city of Genoa, Italy August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Massimo Pinca GENOA, Italy (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte declared on Wednesday a state of emergency covering the region around Genoa after a bridge collapse killed 39 people and severed the port city’s main land corridor with southern France. Conte, speaking at a news conference in Genoa, said he made the declaration after a request from regional authorities. He also took aim at toll-road operator Autostrade, a unit of Milan-listed Atlantia group, which operated the bridge as part of a stretch of the A10 motorway it manages. Conte said the firm had been responsible for ensuring safety on the bridge and the government would not await the outcome of a current criminal investigation into the disaster before taking action. Earlier, the transport minister said the firm’s A10 motorway concession should be revoked and it be hit with heavy fines.<doc-sep>Italian rescue workers in the city of Genoa continued to search through the rubble on Wednesday night, in hope of finding survivors of the Morandi bridge collapse. It remains unclear what actually caused a 100-meter (328-foot) section of the massive structure, known as Genoa's "Brooklyn Bridge," to cave in. The bridge collapsed amid torrential rain on Tuesday, causing vehicles on the bridge to fall some 45 meters. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini did not speculate on how many people might still be trapped in the debris, but said that 1,000 rescue workers were taking part in the search for survivors. Developments on Wednesday The death toll has reached 39, according to authorities. Sixteen people were injured, nine of whom are in serious condition. Authorities evacuated 630 people from nearby apartments, due to concerns about the stability of the remaining large sections of the bridge. Italy's transport minister called for senior managers at Autostrade per l'Italia, the company operating the bridge, to resign. Autostrade per l'Italia said it carried out regular checks before the collapse that had provided reassuring results, and that the maintenance program had been approved by the Transport Ministry. The transport minister said the company could face millions of euros in fines. 'Unacceptable in a modern society' Genoa Prosecutor Francesco Cozzi told reporters that the investigation into the collapse would focus on human error. In particular, any possible design flaws in the bridge's construction, and any inadequate maintenance will be examined. Cozzi said he didn't know who might be responsible, but also added that the tragedy "wasn't an accident." Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte called the tragedy "unacceptable in a modern society." He said that "all infrastructure" across the country needed to be double-checked. "We must not allow another tragedy like this to happen again," he added. Italian Infrastructure and Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli blamed Autostrade per l'Italia, the private company that runs much of Italy's motorway network, for the incident. The company was guilty of "serious shortcomings," and would have its concession to run the motorway network withdrawn and would face fines of up to €150 million ($170 million), Toninelli wrote on Facebook. Conte on Wednesday confirmed the government's intention to revoke the firm's contract. Interior minister points finger at EU austerity Meanwhile, Salvini blamed the European Union for making Italy unsafe. "Funds that would be spent on health and safety "are not allowed to be billed according to strict ... rules imposed by Europe," the euroskeptic politician told local broadcaster Radio24. "You always have to ask for permission to spend money," he added. He did not mention any particular European rules addressing how Italy keeps its roads safe. President Sergio Mattarella echoed the calls for better conditions on Italian roads. "Italians have the right to modern and efficient infrastructure that accompanies them safely through their everyday lives," Mattarella said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin were among the world leaders who sent their condolences. The Morandi Bridge: The Morandi Bridge was designed by Riccardo Morandi and built in 1967. It was built using reinforced concrete which was the best-known technology at the time. It is one of Genoa's most important pieces of infrastructure, providing a link to the Italian Riviera and France's southern coast. Why it happened: The cause of the collapse is still unknown, but some of the potential causes include a possible lightning strike due to the storm at the time of the collapse, an engineering failure, aging infrastructure and corrosion. Concerns over infrastructure: Following the bridge's collapse, Italy's CNR civil engineering society said the working lifespan of bridges built during the 1950s and 1960s was only about 50 years. The Morandi Bridge has been in use for more than five decades. The deadliest bridge and building collapses Chirajara Bridge, Colombia The Chirajara Bridge was intended to connect two tunnels between Bogota and Villavicencio. But as the two sections were being put together in January 2018 one of the pylons broke away, killing nine people. Investigators pointed to a construction error, which meant the other section was also in serious danger of collapsing. The bridge was ultimately blown up in July (pictured). The deadliest bridge and building collapses Studenka Bridge, Czech Republic Workers were renovating the Studenka Bridge in August 2008 when it suddenly collapsed. Just as it fell away, however, a speeding train was headed towards the scene of the accident. Traveling at 120 kilometers per hour (75 mph), the train plunged into rubble below. It remains unclear what exactly caused the collapse, but investigators have since found several faults in the construction. The deadliest bridge and building collapses Mississippi Bridge, USA The 580-meter (1900 feet), eight-lane bridge in Minneapolis was a crucial artery between two city districts. Renovation work began just days before the collapse on August 1, 2007. Even though just one lane was open at the time, 13 people were killed in the accident. Investigators said a construction error led to the bridge caving in. The deadliest bridge and building collapses Sampoong Department Store, South Korea It only took a matter of seconds for the Sampoong Department Store in Seoul to collapse in on itself on June 29, 1995, killing more than 500 people. A probe uncovered a spate of building violations: several regulations were ignored, the building was shoddily constructed and several of the wrong building materials were used. The deadliest bridge and building collapses Rana Plaza, Bangladesh The collapse of the Rana Plaza in Bangladesh's Dhaka District marks the deadliest structural failure in modern history. The eight-story commercial building collapsed on April 24, 2013, killing 1,135 people. A day before, police had banned access after cracks were found in the structure. However, garment workers were still ordered to return the following day and were caught in the disaster. law/sms (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters) Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.<doc-sep>
Genoa bridge collapse: Resident warns of traffic chaos The Genoa bridge collapse has claimed the lives of 39 people with authorities fearing the death toll could rise. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has declared a state of emergency in the region for the next 12 months in response. The bridge collapse has prompted fears more roads could be damaged due to further infrastructure fears. Is Italy safe for British tourists to travel on holiday and what is the latest travel advice from the Foreign Office and the British Embassy? Our embassy are in contact with local authorities for updates and we are ready to offer assistance if needed British Embassy There is no current travel warning from the Foreign Office regarding infrastructure dangers on roads and bridges. The British embassy in Italy tweeted: “We are saddened by the incident in #Genoa and our thoughts are with those injured or killed and their families. “Our embassy are in contact with local authorities for updates and we are ready to offer assistance if needed.” Flights to the region and cruise holidays which stop at Genoa are not currently affected. However the bridge was a major road and connected the region to the south of France and across Europe, therefore other roads could experience a high volume of traffic as a result. Genoa bridge collapse: Is Italy safe for travel following the state of emergency? Genoa bridge collapse: 39 people have died with the death toll expected to rise According to Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera, it is the fifth bridge to collapse in Italy in five years, which has caused concern regarding further dangers. Infrastructure across the country is now to be checked according to the Prime Minister to ensure it doesn’t happen again. According to the Telegraph, approximately 10,000 of the 15,000 bridges in Italy were built in the 1980s and are not made to withstand the increase in traffic. An anonymous structural engineer told La Repubblica newspaper the problems needed to be addressed otherwise it “could potentially lead to structural failures”. He said the issue was “having the money to finance repairs and maintenance”. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini warned EU spending limits were to blame for constraints against spending. The EU refuted these claims. Genoa bridge collapse: A state of emergency has been declared for 12 months in the region Genoa: Moment motorway bridge COLLAPSES Genoa bridge collapse: Traffic chaos across Europe is expected due to the severed bridge connections