Italy PM declares state of emergency after bridge collapse

World Wednesday 15/August/2018 20:34 PM
By: Times News Service
Italy PM declares state of emergency after bridge collapse

Genoa(Italy): Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte declared on Wednesday a state of emergency covering the region around Genoa after a bridge collapse killed 39 people and severed the port city's main land corridor with southern France.
Conte, speaking at a news conference in Genoa, said he made the declaration after a request from regional authorities. He also took aim at toll-road operator Autostrade, a unit of Milan-listed Atlantia group, which operated the bridge as part of a stretch of the A10 motorway it manages.
Conte said the firm had been responsible for ensuring safety on the bridge and the government would not await the outcome of a current criminal investigation into the disaster before taking action.
Earlier, the transport minister said the firm's A10 motorway concession should be revoked and it be hit with heavy fines.