Construction under way to support partially collapsed Dresden bridge

Stabilization work is under way the day after the partial collapse of the Carola Bridge, a major artery across the Elbe river in the German city of Dresden.

A support structure was completed overnight on one side of the bridge to stabilize the section that connects to the river bank, a spokesman for the fire brigade said on Thursday.

A similar substructure is to be erected later on Thursday on the other side of the bridge, which leads to Dresden's popular Old Town district.

In the early hours of Wednesday, an approximately 100-metre section of the bridge collapsed.

The accident caused no injuries, but at any other time of day the collapse could have led to a catastrophe, officials said.

The Carola Bridge has a pedestrian and cycle path alongside the tram tracks crossing the Elbe River. All were affected by the accident.

The rest of the bridge is now also at risk of collapse.

The cause is still being investigated, but the police do not believe it was caused by an external factor.