30 Missing in Bridge Collapse

As many as 30 people are still missing after yesterday’s fatal bridge collapse in Minneapolis, as divers search underwater for bodies trapped in cars, the AP reports. The divers are taking down license plate numbers of submerged vehicles to help identify the missing. Meanwhile, the official death toll dropped to four this morning, as authorities studied remains more carefully.

“We know we do have more casualties at the scene,” said the local police chief, who emphasized that the missing persons tally was just an estimate. He said the collapsed  structure was still shifting, complicating recovery efforts. A state transportation official said many bridges around the country carry the “structurally deficient” rating the eight-lane interstate received two years ago. (More bridge collapse stories.)