Span of automobile bridge collapsed in Atyrau

Atyrau, September 14 2009, Khabar - Span of automobile bridge that is under construction over Ural river collapsed in Atyrau. Four people died and four people are missing. Three workers were rescued and one of them is hospitalized. Bergey Ryskaliyev, governor of Atyrau region says special commission was founded to investigate the reasons of accident. Emergency happened on September 11 at about 7 p.m. The middle span of 106 meters of length and 18 meters of width came down from piers and fell into water. Construction of this automobile bridge was begun last year and it was planned to end it by the end of this year. 11 welders were working in the bridge when it collapsed. two workers didn’t suffered, one injured his head and was hospitalized. bodies of four workers were found and searching of four builders are continued. The employees of “Transstroimost” JSC that builds the bridge take part in searching of missed workers together with 76 rescuers, 6 cutters of water-rescuing service, fish protecting department and Agip KKO company.

Zhasulan Dzhumashev, head of department on emergencies in Atyrau region:
- The work is complicated because the river bed is covered with a lot of silt. And there are very many piers, metallic constructions, wires and barb bolts.

The preliminary version of tragedy is violation of technological cycle.

Zhasulan Dzhumashev, head of department on emergencies in Atyrau region:
- The middle span slid and with inclination to the right occurred during work on the bridge. And the middle span fell into the river.

Bergey Ryskaliyev, governor of Atyrau region says special commission was founded to investigate the reasons of accident. The families of died workers will receive financial assistance.