Tragedy in Spain as pupils and teacher among 5 dead after wooden bridge collapses | World | News

At least five people died when a wooden pedestrian bridge on a beach in Spain collapsed. The victims were part of a group of seven people affected by the crash at El Bocal Beach on the outskirts of the northern city of Santander.

All were described as “young to middle-aged.” Their nationalities are not yet known, but it appears that they are all women. When the walkway collapsed, they fell into the water and onto the rocks below. The horror tragedy occurred on Tuesday afternoon, March 3, at around 16.30. Since one person was still missing, in addition to the coast guard teams, fire brigades, police and local government representatives also mobilized helicopters and participated in search and rescue efforts.

The injured appear to have walked along the beach at El Bocal Beach, following a route that included crossing numerous footbridges.

Last night the death toll stood at 4, but this rose to 5 overnight, although local reports quoting the coast guard said six people had been killed. One of those who was taken to the hospital’s intensive care unit lost his fight for life.

Santander mayor Gema Igual visited the scene. She said, speaking when the official death toll still stood at four and describing the walkway that collapsed as running between two cliffs: “They had come to enjoy the area’s natural environment and suffered this accident.

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“There are four dead, we are still looking for two people and one person is in hospital suffering from hypothermia.”

Central government representatives in the region confirmed last night that the death toll had risen to five. A sixth woman is in intensive care at the Marques de Valdecilla University Hospital in Santander and the search for the missing seventh person is ongoing.

Local reports said the female casualties were students aged 20 to 25 doing agricultural and environmental studies at a specialist training center in Spain’s northern Cantabria region and a supervisor teacher there. They were walking between El Bocal beach and the Spanish Oceanographic Institute, based in Santander.

A group of cyclists raised the alarm just after 4.30pm.