08 November 2009 - 13H55  

Five workers dead in Andorra bridge collapse
Emergency teams work on the bridge's rubble to find the bodies of workers in the Massana valley in northwest Andorra. Two more workers died overnight after a bridge under construction in the Pyrenees principality of Andorra collapsed, bringing the death toll to five.
Emergency teams work on the bridge's rubble to find the bodies of workers in the Massana valley in northwest Andorra. Two more workers died overnight after a bridge under construction in the Pyrenees principality of Andorra collapsed, bringing the death toll to five.

AFP - Two more workers died overnight after a bridge under construction in the Pyrenees principality of Andorra collapsed, bringing the death toll to five, the government said Sunday.

Six other workers were recovering in hospital after the concrete structure of the road bridge gave way around midday Saturday near the Dos Valires tunnel in the Massana valley in northwest Andorra.

Emergency teams worked throughout the night to rescue a man who was trapped up to the waist in rubble, but he died shortly after being pulled from the debris in the early hours on Sunday, according to a government spokesman.

The body of another missing worker was also recovered late Saturday.

The government has said most of the workers were Portuguese nationals.

Six of the injured were rushed to hospital with head and limb injuries. One was later transferred to Barcelona for specialist treatment.

Some 20 metres (22 yards) of the concrete structure collapsed in the accident that occurred after workers had just finished pouring new concrete at the site.

Police are investigating to determine the causes of the accident at the bridge that was to link the tunnel to a road leading to two nearby villages.

Rescue services said some 60 workers were on site when the accident occurred, but the remainder escaped unharmed.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who holds the title of co-prince of Andorra along with a Spanish bishop, expressed condolences in a statement and pledged "France's support and solidarity during this ordeal."

The head of government, Jaume Bartumeu, was to travel to the scene later in the day and visit the injured workers in hospital.

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