A Bridge on Interstate 95 in the US Collapses Due to a Large Vehicle Fire
No Injuries Reported, Authorities Urge Drivers to Avoid the Area
June 11, 2023
11:25 a.m.
Authorities closed both directions of a main highway in the US after a large vehicle caught fire, resulting in the collapse of a bridge on Interstate 95. The incident occurred near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 2023.
Images broadcasted by local televisions showed a large column of black smoke and a section of the road burnt with melted iron and smoked cement due to the intensity of the fire. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported, according to Derek Bowmer, captain of the Philadelphia fire department, who spoke at a press conference.
The fire started at around 6:30 a.m. local time, and emergency teams responded promptly, realizing quickly that the fire was coming from a large burning vehicle located under the freeway. Though local media reported that it was a tanker truck, local authorities are yet to confirm this information.
As per Bowmer, the fire from the vehicle may have hit gas lines that run underground, causing small explosions and fires around the freeway. While the damaged highway, Interstate 95, serves as a link between major cities on the US East Coast, authorities have urged drivers to steer clear of the area, which will remain inaccessible for some time.
The governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, has been informed of the situation and is coordinating with the authorities in the neighboring state of New Jersey and the federal government to respond to the situation.
Interstate 95 (I-95), covering a distance of 3,096 kilometers, runs from Miami in Florida to the border between Maine in the US and the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It is one of the most heavily used roadways in the US, with millions of Americans utilizing it each day.
EFE