Fire engulfs Iron Bridge in Rome

Rome, Oct 3 (EFE).- A fire has ravaged the Iron Bridge (Ponte dell’Industria) in Rome, one of the symbols of Italy’s Industrial Revolution.

A seven-meter long section of a walkway used for maintenance of the bridge, which crosses the Tiber River and connects Roman districts  Ostiense and Marconi, collapsed in the fire that broke out late Saturday.

The flames were put out after several hours at 2.00 am, with no injuries reported.

Francesco Notaro, the chief of Rome’s fire department, told local media that it was too early to tell when the bridge will reopen.

“Although the structure itself appears intact, possible damages have been noted and inspections, as well as other checks, will be necessary,” Notaro said.

Rome’s mayor Virginia Raggi was headed to the scene on Sunday morning to see the extent of the damage.

“At the moment what we can say is that it is heartbreaking to see a piece of history reduced to this,” Raggi said.

The causes of the fire are still under investigation.

The fire resulted in power cuts in parts of some neighborhoods in Rome.

The Iron Bridge was built between 1862 and 1863 to connect the then Civitavecchia-Rome railway with Termini Station.EFE