Police recover three bodies from collapsed Miami bridge

Florida police reported Saturday that they have recovered three bodies from the scene of a bridge collapse at Florida International University (FIU). Police estimate at least six people were killed in the incident.

The three bodies recovered Saturday were included in initial casualty reports, and did not cause the death toll from Thursday’s deadly incident to rise, CNN reported.

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Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez said Saturday that the size of the debris on top of the vehicles trapped by the collapse will lengthen the recovery process.

“It’s going to be a long process,” Perez said, “because [of] the … weight and size of the structure that is laying on top of these vehicles.”

The recently-installed $14.2 million bridge collapsed on Thursday, two days after cracks were reported on the bridge’s north side by the project’s lead engineer. 

The bridge, a pedestrian pathway spanning a major road, was built with new modular construction techniques meant to save time and money and improve efficiency.

“We are shocked and saddened about the tragic events unfolding at the FIU-Sweetwater pedestrian bridge. At this time we are still involved in rescue efforts and gathering information,” a spokesperson for FIU said. “We are working closely with authorities and first responders on the scene.”

Questions have been raised about the firms involved in the project, Munilla Construction Management and Figg Bridge Group, with local media reporting previous citations for unsafe practices.

The White House praised first responders in Florida for their work to recover the bodies and save lives following the accident.

“Our brave first responders are working feverishly to save lives. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and offer whatever support is needed to the local officials and community,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement.