ANDORRA LA VELLA (AFP) - A bridge collapse in Andorra Saturday killed at least three workers, left seven badly hurt and one missing, feared buried under the rubble, the government said.
Some 20 metres (22 yards) of the concrete structure of the road bridge, which was under construction, collapsed near the Dos Valires tunnel in the Massana valley in the northwest of the principality sandwiched between France and Spain.
Eleven men were swept away in a mass of concrete and steel scaffolding when the accident happened.
Rescue services recovered two bodies shortly after the accident, and a third was pulled from the rubble later.
Firemen and police are still trying to free one man stuck in the rubble since the accident happened at midday. One worker was still unaccounted for.
The injured man was trapped in rubble up to his waist and was being treated with sedatives. Rescue teams were trying to keep him warm amid plunging temperatures.
Six of the injured were rushed to hospital with head and limb injuries. One was later transferred to Barcelona for specialist treatment.
"Their lives do not appear to be in danger," said Andorran government spokesman Sebastia Vidal.
Police said an inquiry has been opened into the accident, saying it happened shortly after workers had poured fresh reinforced concrete at the site. However, the cause of the accident was unknown.
Rescue services said some 60 workers were on site when the accident occurred, but the remainder escaped unharmed.
The Andorran government said the majority of the victims were Portuguese employed by several different companies involved in the project.
