/ 13 April 2004

Thirty bridges collapse in Zambia

A Zambian minister on Tuesday said 30 bridges had collapsed across the country in the past three months because of torrential rains, killing at least 10 people and injuring several others.

About 10 people died and many were injured when a bus plunged into a river after one bridge collapsed last month, Works and Supply Minister Ludwig Sondashi said.

”We are currently working on the programme to [rebuild] these bridges. They collapsed due to heavy rains and not negligence on the part of government,” Sondashi said.

He said most of the bridges were old and no longer able to withstand flooding, adding that the government was seeking financial support to rebuild the collapsed bridges. — Sapa-AFP