Under construction bridge collapses in Iraq: 2 dead, several injured; rescue efforts stretch overnight

Iraq bridge collapse (Screengrab from video circulating on social media)

At least two people were killed and several others were injured after a portion of an under-construction collapse in Iraq’s southern region, officials confirmed on Sunday.The incident happened on Saturday evening, and rescue efforts continued for more than 13 hours.Rescue personnel worked through the night to extract individuals trapped beneath the collapsed bridge’s debris on the primary Karbala-Baghdad route, according to AFP journalist who witnessed the operations. The civil defence unit in Karbala stated they had “rescued seven people and recovered two bodies” from beneath the fallen bridge structure.A Karbala health official disclosed to AFP on Saturday evening that a minimum of six individuals sustained injuries, including nationals from Syria and Afghanistan.The injured were taken to Karbala’s nearest medical facility, a city frequented by Shiite pilgrims visiting sacred sites.According to the health official, who remained unnamed, the “pillars of the bridge collapsed while several vehicles were passing underneath it”.This comes following years of conflict as Iraq experiences increased stability, with numerous areas, particularly Baghdad, undergoing substantial construction and infrastructure development, including new bridge projects.