Victor Sosa

Victor Sosa

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Search And Rescue Operations At Miami Bridge Collapse Switches To Recovery

Rescue crews at the scene of a bridge collapse in Miami, Florida are switching from search and rescue efforts to recovery operations. The change in mission effectively means that authorities assume that anyone still underneath the bridge has died. 

At least six people were killed when the brand-new bridge pancaked onto the roadway below authorities said

Miami-Dade Deputy Mayor Maurice Kemp talked about the change in mission for crews. 

"Our primary focus, is to remove all of the cars and all of the victims in a dignified manner, and not compromise the investigation in the process." 

Officials say crews are working round-the-clock to reunite victims with their families for proper burial ceremonies. At least one of the deceased was an FIU student. 

The identities of those killed by the bridge collapse have not been released and authorities believe there could be more fatalities than the six deaths that have already been confirmed. 

The National Safety Transportation Board is also on the scene investigating the cause of the collapse. According to NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt, his people are working to ensure the same type of accident doesn't occur at other bridges in the U.S. 

Authorities say the new bridge was being put through a "stress test" and its cables were being tightened when it collapsed. The $14.2 million bridge was scheduled to be opened in early 2019 and serve as a safe walkway for students to cross a busy roadway to the Florida International University campus from the town of Sweetwater. 

The pedestrian walkway was not open at the time when it collapsed on vehicles waiting in traffic. 

Photos: Getty Images


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