A section of the Carola Bridge - one of the traffic arteries in Dresden - partially collapsed into the Elbe during the night. According to the situation center, the pedestrian and cycle path as well as the streetcar tracks are affected. According to the Dresden fire department, the bridge is 100 meters long. Two district heating pipes were damaged and hot water was leaking.
No injuries
According to current information, no people were injured. Dresden's public transport company said that there was no streetcar on the bridge. Passengers and vehicles were therefore not injured. Lines 3 and 7 run on the bridge every hour on weekdays, including at night.
According to the information provided, the southern half of the bridge, which spans the Terrassenufer road and a section of the Elbe, was affected by the collapse. According to the fire department, a gap of around one meter has formed at the bridgehead on the Old Town side. District heating pipes are also damaged. "District heating is currently out throughout the city," the fire department announced. Due to the leaking water, parts of the terrace bank are completely under water.
Collapse at around 3.00 am
It is not yet clear how parts of the bridge came loose at around 3.00 am. The Carola Bridge is one of the most important traffic bridges in Dresden. The area was cordoned off extensively. "We ask the public to avoid the area and not to obstruct the emergency services," said a fire department spokesperson.
In the early morning, it was still relatively quiet in the area. However, significant obstructions are to be expected during rush hour, streetcars are being diverted, as is car traffic. The federal waterway is closed, according to the police, as are the Elbe cycle path and the Terrassenufer. "Experts from the individual trades, the city administration and all partners involved are currently meeting to discuss the next steps," said the fire department.
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