Family of four killed in Genoa bridge collapse days after honeymoon

Rescue teams were today continuing to scour debris from the collapsed motorway bridge in Italy as hopes of finding more survivors began to fade.

The death toll from Tuesday’s disaster in Genoa stands at 38 but officials fear this could rise. The country’s deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini said: “Unfortunately it’s very likely that there are more victims under the rubble.”

The government also said that flats by the Morandi bridge may have to be destroyed, forcing 630 people out of their homes. They have been evacuated due to the risk of further collapse. Transportation and infrastructure minister Danilo Toninelli said: “We must think about the demolition of houses beneath the bridge.”

More victims of the disaster have been named, including couple Andrea Vittone, 49, and Claudia Possetti, 48, who got married three weeks ago, and Ms Possetti’s children from a previous relationship, Camilla, 12, and Manuele, 16. The couple had recently returned from their honeymoon in California. Ms Possetti’s sister Nadia said: “They were a wonderful family. Currently I am ashamed to be Italian.”

Also among the dead were friends Matteo Bentornati, videographer Giovanni Battiloro, Gerardo Esposito and Antonio Stanzione, who were due to fly to France for their holiday but chose to drive at the last minute.

Mr Salvini said the tragedy showed the need to increase investment, hinting at the risk posed by EU spending limits. “If external constraints prevent us from spending to have safe roads, then it calls into question whether it makes sense to follow these rules,” he said. A top structural engineer said many of Italy’s bridges “have problems that could potentially lead to structural failures”.