Photo taken on April 8, 2020 shows the collapsed bridge in Massa-Carrara province, Tuscany, Italy. A bridge in Massa-Carrara province collapsed Wednesday and no casualties were reported so far. (Photo by Etass/Xinhua)
ROME, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A bridge in Italy's central region of Tuscany collapsed on Wednesday, and one person was slightly injured, authorities said.
The incident occurred to a 258-meter-long viaduct connecting the towns of Aulla and Albiano Magra, in the Tuscan province of Massa Carrara.
The provincial road was almost empty due to the lockdown declared nationwide for the COVID-19 emergency, and only two vans were reported to be traveling on the bridge at that time.
One driver was slightly injured, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement after checking the situation with local authorities of the Aulla municipality.
The driver was airlifted to a hospital in the city of Pisa, and his health conditions were not critical, according to Ansa news agency, citing medical sources.
The driver of the second van would be in shock, but otherwise unhurt.
A check on the bridge had been tasked to ANAS, the state company managing most motorways and roads in the country, in early November after a crack in the asphalt had been observed, according to a statement by Aulla municipality at the time.
Italian Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Paola De Micheli said she ordered a probe into the incident, naming a pool of inspectors that would "investigate on the event and ascertain responsibilities."
In a statement, ANAS said its technicians were sent on the ground to carry out the due checks, and that "no operations were ongoing on the bridge at the time of collapse."
