After a fire in a tanker truck, the highway collapsed in Philadelphia

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A busy highway bridge partially collapsed after a fire in the American metropolis of Philadelphia. Television footage showed flames and thick smoke above the collapsed debris of Interstate 95 on Sunday morning (local time).

A spokeswoman for the authorities told AFP news agency that a “major fire” caused the crash. US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg wrote on Twitter that a tanker truck had caught fire. Initially nothing was known about injuries.

One of the busiest routes

Traffic on the highway was blocked in both directions near the scene of the accident. I-95 is an important thoroughfare on the east coast of the US, connecting major cities such as Miami, Washington, Philadelphia and New York. The great north-south axis extends from the southern state of Florida to near the northern border between the US and Canada. It is one of the busiest routes in the US.

Buttigieg also stressed that it is an important thoroughfare for both people and goods. “The lockdown will have a significant impact on the city and region until reconstruction and recovery are complete.” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre wrote on Twitter that US President Joe Biden was aware of the incident and that government officials were in contact with local authorities.

Horror for commuters

In addition to the collapsed four northbound lanes, the southbound lanes were also damaged by the heat from the fire, Fire Chief Bowmer said. Authorities advised travelers to drive around the area and choose “alternative itineraries”.

The reconstruction of the destroyed section of the highway could take many weeks – a horror scenario for commuters and travelers alike at the start of the summer holidays. (AFP/SDA)

Source: Blick