A metro overpass collapse in Mexico City has killed at least 23 people and left dozens of others injured. The accident happened while a train was travelling on it.
Dramatic footage shows the overpass collapsing at the Olivos station on the metro’s Line 12. The terrifying event saw several train carriages plunge to the ground, crushing at least one car on the busy road underneath.
Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum arrived at the crash site to co-ordinate the search and rescue operation. Rescue workers and firefighters are currently searching for survivors.
According to local media, local residents reported cracks in the structure after a deadly 2017 earthquake. Transport authorities made repairs following the reports.
23 people are confirmed dead and about 70 people injured. It is feared the death toll will rise as many people may still be trapped under the rubble.
Crash survivor Marian says, “we only heard a loud thunder, and everything fell apart”. She says there were many people standing and sitting in the carriage, and she hit the carriage’s roof. As she wasn’t seriously hurt, she was able to help other people get out through the window.
One eyewitness says, “suddenly I saw that the structure was shaking”. They ran straight over to help as soon as the dust cleared. No screams were heard.
Difficult questions for mayor’s office
The metro system in Mexico City is one of the largest and most used in the world. It carries tens of millions of passengers a week, and about 1.6bn passengers a year.
However, the incident didn’t happen on one of the older lines, which have been through at least two major earthquakes in the last 35 years. It occurred on the newest addition, Line 12, which was completed as recently as October 2012.
This leads to the mayor’s office now having a number of difficult questions to answer about the construction of the line. However, this will have to wait, as focus is solely on the rescue operation for now.
Mexicans pray the number of victims doesn’t rise any further.
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