One person died and eight were injured after a bridge collapsed in the city of Patras on Sunday.

Operations to free any people under the rubble are ongoing, as rescue units are making frantic efforts, as at least 3 people are estimated to be under the wreckage.

At 12:47 noon today, the Fire Brigade’s operations centre was alerted to the accident. 35 firefighters with 12 vehicles, the IKAROS team, with drones, as well as special rescue vehicles of the 6th EMAK with 2 rescue dogs, were immediately dispatched to the scene, while forces from the 1st and 5th EMAK are also moving.

5 ambulances and a mobile unit of the ambulance service remain on the scene.

The police have suspended traffic on the wide bypass of Patras in both directions (towards Athens and Pyrgos) and on Diodorou Street in Patras, due to the collapse of part of the bridge.

Traffic had been banned and closed on this section of the bridge by decision of the Achaia Police Directorate since Thursday 20 July due to demolition works for the reconstruction of the lower crossing.

The city’s hospitals have been put on alert. One victim and 5 injured were taken to Rio hospital and 3 injured were taken to Agios Andreas Hospital.

Greek Police forces from neighbouring Regional Units and Attica have been dispatched to the site. The police have informed the competent prosecutor while the preliminary investigation has been undertaken by the Patras Police Department.

Also on the spot are the Regional Governor of Western Greece Nektarios Farmakis, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Nikos Tachias and the Deputy Minister of Transport Christina Alexopoulou.