Partially collapsed Dresden bridge at risk of full structural failure

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, with authorities warning that the whole bridge is at risk of falling into the water.

A support structure was completed overnight on one side of the concrete 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 soon be erected 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 into the Elbe.

This section is to be demolished in a controlled manner in coordination with engineers and the German military, fire brigade spokesman Michael Klahre said.

Klahre said that without the support structures being erected at either end, it would only be "a matter of time before this bridge collapses further."

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