Twenty two killed and dozens more feared dead as huge section of highway bridge collapses as cars drive across it in 'apocalyptic scene' during fierce storm in Genoa

At least 22 people have been killed and dozens more are feared dead after a 260ft section of a highway bridge collapsed during a sudden and violent storm in Genoa, Italy.

Cars fell 300ft along with tonnes of twisted steel and concrete debris into a river, railroad tracks and an industrial zone below when the Morandi bridge gave way at 11.30am local time.

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Dozens are feared dead after a huge section of a highway bridge suddenly collapsed during a storm in Genoa, Italy The head of the local ambulance service said there were 'dozens of dead' in what the transport minister called 'an immense tragedy.'

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Firefighters said two people had been pulled alive from the rubble from the Morandi Bridge after a section collapsed onto an industrial area below One witness described the carnage as an 'apocalyptic scene.'

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited The disaster occurred on a highway that connects Italy to France and other vacation resorts on the eve of a major Italian holiday Firefighters searching the rubble with dogs for survivors have so far rescued two survivors and one has been flown to hospital by helicopter.

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited One picture shows a truck stopped just feet away from a sheer drop where the bridge collapsed An official with Italian firefighters, Amalia Tedeschi, told RAI state TV that some 20 vehicles, including cars and trucks, had been involved in the collapse.

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Carnage: The Morandi bridge collapsed at 11.30am local time. It was built on the A10 toll motorway in the 1960s and was restructured in 2016 She confirmed that two injured people had been extracted alive from vehicles.

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Some 600ft of the Morandi bridge collapsed over an industrial zone, raising concerns gas lines may have been damaged Tedeschi said that sniffer dogs are at work in the rubble looking for more injured and victims. In addition, heavy equipment was being moved in so they could lift pieces of the bridge.

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited The Morandi Bridge was inaugurated in 1967. It is 90 yards high, just over three-quarters of a mile long, with the longest section between supports measuring 200 yards She said the part of the bridge that collapsed was about 80 meters (yards) in length. Media reports had earlier put it at 200 meters

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said some 200 firefighters were responding to the accident. Pictured: Police at the scene A witness told Sky Italia television he saw several vehicles on the bridge when it collapsed. Video captured a man screaming 'oh god, oh, god' as the bridge went down.

Gallery: Genoa bridge collapses in 'apocalyptic scene' (Photos)

A large section of the Morandi viaduct, part of the A10 motorway, has collapsed in Genoa. Rescue services have confirmed that at least 11 people have died. Several vehicles were crushed under the rubble with people still inside, according to local sources.
Pictured: the collapsed Morandi Bridge is seen in the Italian port city of Genoa, Italy on Aug. 14.

Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said in a tweet that he was 'following with great apprehension what seems like an immense tragedy.'

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited One survivor was flown to hospital by helicopter The disaster occurred on a highway that connects Italy to France and other vacation resorts on the eve of a major Italian holiday, Ferragosto, meaning traffic would have been heavier than usual as many Italians traveled to beaches or mountains.

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited An official with Italian firefighters, Amalia Tedeschi, told RAI state TV that some 20 vehicles, including cars and trucks, had been involved in the collapse

Shares in Atlantia, the toll road operator which runs the motorway, were suspended after falling 4.6 percent after news of the collapse.