02:18A stretch of the Carola Bridge in the centre of Dresden collapsed over the River Elbe on Wednesday, causing major disruption to traffic and transport.
Footage shows police blocking roads leading to the partially collapsed bridge as locals gather along riverbanks to assess the damage. Maintenance crews are seen repairing tram lines and power cables amid traffic jams and lane closures.
According to local authorities, a 100-meter (330-foot) stretch of the bridge plummeted into the Elbe, a key waterway in east Germany. No injuries have been reported, and the cause of the collapse was not determined at the time of publication.
The incident occurred at 3:08 am local time (1:08 GMT), and authorities reported that nobody was on the bridge when it collapsed. Two tram lines that cross Carola are running at reduced service while ship traffic along the waterway has been halted.
The Dresden fire brigade said that two 'large district heating pipes' burst when the bridge fell, bringing the supply of hot water to a citywide standstill.
First built in 1895, the original Carola Bridge was destroyed by explosives in an attempt to delay the Soviet Army's advance at the tail end of World War II. The bridge was under reconstruction from 1967 to 1971 and saw renovations from 2019 to 2021.
A Bridge Too Far? Eastern Germany's iconic Carola crashes into Elbe
A stretch of the Carola Bridge in the centre of Dresden collapsed over the River Elbe on Wednesday, causing major disruption to traffic and transport.
Footage shows police blocking roads leading to the partially collapsed bridge as locals gather along riverbanks to assess the damage. Maintenance crews are seen repairing tram lines and power cables amid traffic jams and lane closures.
According to local authorities, a 100-meter (330-foot) stretch of the bridge plummeted into the Elbe, a key waterway in east Germany. No injuries have been reported, and the cause of the collapse was not determined at the time of publication.
The incident occurred at 3:08 am local time (1:08 GMT), and authorities reported that nobody was on the bridge when it collapsed. Two tram lines that cross Carola are running at reduced service while ship traffic along the waterway has been halted.
The Dresden fire brigade said that two 'large district heating pipes' burst when the bridge fell, bringing the supply of hot water to a citywide standstill.
First built in 1895, the original Carola Bridge was destroyed by explosives in an attempt to delay the Soviet Army's advance at the tail end of World War II. The bridge was under reconstruction from 1967 to 1971 and saw renovations from 2019 to 2021.
A stretch of the Carola Bridge in the centre of Dresden collapsed over the River Elbe on Wednesday, causing major disruption to traffic and transport.
Footage shows police blocking roads leading to the partially collapsed bridge as locals gather along riverbanks to assess the damage. Maintenance crews are seen repairing tram lines and power cables amid traffic jams and lane closures.
According to local authorities, a 100-meter (330-foot) stretch of the bridge plummeted into the Elbe, a key waterway in east Germany. No injuries have been reported, and the cause of the collapse was not determined at the time of publication.
The incident occurred at 3:08 am local time (1:08 GMT), and authorities reported that nobody was on the bridge when it collapsed. Two tram lines that cross Carola are running at reduced service while ship traffic along the waterway has been halted.
The Dresden fire brigade said that two 'large district heating pipes' burst when the bridge fell, bringing the supply of hot water to a citywide standstill.
First built in 1895, the original Carola Bridge was destroyed by explosives in an attempt to delay the Soviet Army's advance at the tail end of World War II. The bridge was under reconstruction from 1967 to 1971 and saw renovations from 2019 to 2021.