A freeway bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, collapsed Wednesday, killing at least three people and plunging cars and chunks of concrete into the Mississippi River below, CNN reported.
Television footage showed that the central section of the eight-lane bridge caved in, leaving some survivors and cars stranded on parts that are not completely submerged.
The Interstate 35W bridge collapsed at about 6:05 p.m. local time (2205 GMT).
A tractor-trailer caught fire with heavy black smoke billowing into the sky.
The state Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department said there were "lots" of injuries and there were 50 to 100 cars on the bridge at the time.
It was still not clear at this point what caused the collapse.
Media reports said a school bus filled with children was on the bridge when it collapsed, but they also said the bus did not drop into the water and it appeared that the children had all been evacuated.
Nighttime construction took place on the bridge Tuesday night and was to take place again Wednesday night, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The highway would have been restricted to a single lane in both directions from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. both nights.
In Washington, the Homeland Security Department has so far received no indications that the collapse was an act of terrorism and said it will continue to monitor the situation.
The arched bridge, which was built in 1967, rises about 20 meters above the river.
Source: Xinhua/agencies
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