Death, injury toll in Grayston collapse rises

Joburg mayor Parks Tau has announced that two people died while 23 others were injured in the Grayston bridge collapse.

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Johannesburg – Johannesburg Mayor Parks Tau on Wednesday evening announced that two people had died and 23 others were injured when a pedestrian bridge that was under construction collapsed.

Earlier witnesses said the bridge near the Grayston off ramp, that leads to Sandton, collapsed after strong winds hit the area.

Scaffolding, debris and metal structures supporting the bridge fell on to cars drving along the M1. Some cars were trapped under the rubble.

Tau said for now the city was focused on “emergency” work that had to be done. He warned the freeway was unlikely to be open to traffic Thursday.

He said the CIty had decided to make Park and Ride buses that were taking part in the Ecomobililty World Festival would be made available for free to assist the public to access Sandton.

Emergency workers had managed to free passengers from a trapped taxi.

Two people, both alive, were still trapped in the vehicle under the rubble.

Tau said the City would eventually resuscitate the project because “10 00 people” presently walk across the Grayston bridge.

Owing to the traffic build up, a bus that was driving off the road was involved in an accident near the collapsed bridge. Tau said he had no idea what the casualty figures were.

African News Agency