Which religions have had the biggest losses?
Throughout history, bridge collapses have led to tragic losses and serious injuries. These catastrophic failures serve as reminders of the importance of infrastructure safety.
Click through this gallery to learn about some of the most significant bridge collapses ever.
On March 26, 2024, a cargo ship crashed into a column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge at the Port of Baltimore. Large sections of the 1.6-mile (2.57 km) bridge were collapsed into the Patapsco River. Sadly, numerous cars were crossing the bridge at the time and were plunged into the water.
Casualties: 6
On October 30, 2022, a bridge collapsed with devastating results in the town of Morbi in India's western state of Gujarat. The 750-foot (230-meter) suspension bridge hung over a river and was built in the 19th century. It had just been reopened after renovations a week before the tragedy. An estimated 200 people were on the bridge when it suddenly collapsed into the water below. The cars plummeted into the water, killing more than one hundred people and injuring dozens more. Early reports suggested that an integral cable snapped at one end of the bridge, and investigations concluded that the repairs had not been conducted with the necessary expertise.
Casualties: 141
On August 14, 2018, shortly before 12 pm local time, the Morandi Bridge in Genoa, Italy gave way and a large part of the freeway came crashing down. The bridge was undergoing maintenance at the time of the accident.
Causalities: 43
A section of the upper and lower deck of this bridge collapsed in California during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
Causalities: 1
This bridge collapsed in 1861 in Wootton, England due to a flaw in design. The cast iron beams cracked and failed.
Causalities: 2
Another bridge that collapsed due to faulty design was this structure in Chester, England in 1847.
Causalities: 5
This bridge in Gloucestershire, England has since been demolished after it collapsed in 1960 when two barges collided with one of the bridge's columns.
Causalities: 5
Defects in the cast iron caused this structure to collapse in Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1882 as a train was passing over.
Causalities: 5
Three days of rain caused this train bridge to wash away in Wood River Junction, Rhode Island, 1873.
Causalities: 7
A partial collapse of this bridge occurred when a barge hit one of the structure's supports in 2001. Repairs were estimated to cost US$5 million.
Causalities: 8
In Studénka, a train crashed into a road bridge over the railway in 2008. In addition to those killed, 70 people were also injured in the accident.
Causalities: 8
A train derailed in this tragedy in Seta River Bridge in Otsu, 1934.
Causalities: 11
This devastating accident occurred in 2011 due to human error. Workers were doing maintenance work on the bridge when a support cable snapped, causing a catastrophic failure.
Causalities: 20
Towards the end of World War II this bridge collapsed after it was captured by US forces from the Germans, killing a total of 28 American soldiers.
Causalities: 28
A 150-year-old bridge that was being dismantled collapsed in 2006 right as train was passing underneath it.
Causalities: 33
Another bridge disaster that occurred due to a washout in Indiana, 1859.
Causalities: 41
The Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 also affected another structure: the Cypress Street Viaduct in Oakland, California.
Causalities: 42
Overloading and poor maintenance was the cause of this tragic bridge collapse in Ohio, 1967.
Causalities: 46
This entire structure in Dixon, Illinois was completely destroyed in 1873 after a large crowd gathered to witness a baptism ceremony in the river below.
Causalities: 46
It was determined that there was a major problem with the uneven, sandy, settling foundation of this bridge, which ultimately caused it to come tumbling down in 2007.
Causalities: 52
After 20 years of sand extraction around the pillars of this structure, the Hintze Ribeiro Bridge structure finally gave in 2001.
Causalities: 59
A train carrying more than 500 passengers was passing over the bridge when it fell through the center of the structure in 1891. The bridge was constructed by Gustave Eiffel, who would later go on to construct the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
Causalities: 71
See also: The worst hotel disasters in history
Devastating bridge disasters around the world
The latest bridge accident killed four people in South Korea
LIFESTYLE Disaster
Throughout history, bridge collapses have led to tragic losses and serious injuries. These catastrophic failures serve as reminders of the importance of infrastructure safety.
Click through this gallery to learn about some of the most significant bridge collapses ever.