BRUSSELS (Reuters) - One man died and two people were injured when a highway bridge under demolition collapsed near the town of La Louviere, southern Belgium, authorities said on Thursday 6 March 2025.
Mayor Jacques Gobert told Reuters that one worker - who was on the steel bridge as it collapsed - had died, while two others were injured as the deck collapsed onto a barge anchored underneath to collect rubble from the bridge.
The bridge - which was closed for traffic during the demolition works - was part of a two-bridge crossing on the E42 highway over the "Canal du Centre" canal and was being demolished with a view to being reconstructed next year.
The other bridge had been renovated in recent years, a spokesperson for the Sofico Wallonie local government highways agency said.
Authorities closed traffic on the renovated bridge following the collapse, which happened around 14:00 CET. By 18:00 CET, traffic was reopened, with the renovated bridge accommodating car traffic in both directions.
