Disasters & Accidents

At least 20 killed as Mexico City metro overpass collapses

(Update 1: Adds death toll, re-ledes, alters headline)

Mexico City, May 4 (EFE).- At least 20 people have been killed and 49 hospitalized after a Mexico City metro overpass collapsed, causing two subway wagons to drop down onto a busy road late Monday.

Local residents took to social media to criticize authorities, saying they had repeatedly warned about structural issues at the overpass on Line 12, between the stations of Olivos and Tezoncos, following the large earthquake that hit the Mexican capital in September 2017.

“Unfortunately, what happened was a beam collapsed when a train passed over it, all investigations will be conducted to find out what caused this accident,” Mexico City Governor Claudia Sheinbaum told the press at the scene of the accident.

Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard tweeted: “What happened today was a terrible tragedy. My solidarity with the victims and their families. Of course, the causes must be investigated and responsibilities defined.”

The first video images show how two subway cars fell on the road where dozens of vehicles were circulating at the time.

Emergency services immediately arrived to attend to victims and remove the train.

The accident occurred shortly before 10:20 p.m. local time (03:20 GMT on Tuesday.)

Security camera footage shows how the elevated structure breaks when the train collapses, from a height of about 20 meters, and two wagons of the convoy remain in a “V” shape having impacted the floor. The crash occurred on Tláhuac avenue where there was moderate traffic.

The installation is part of the subway bridge built during the Administration of Ebrard (2006-2012), now the country’s foreign minister.

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