美国有线新闻 CNN 意大利热那亚高架桥大雨中坍塌 逾20人遇难（在线收听）

We're starting in the European nation of Italy where tragedy struck in the northwestern city of Genoa yesterday. It's where a major section of a highway bridge collapsed at about noon time. And though Italian officials say it's unlikely that anyone who is underneath the bridge when that happened, traffic was flowing across it.

今天首条新闻来关注欧洲国家意大利，昨天意大利西北部城市热那亚发生了一起悲剧。中午时分，该市一座公路桥的主路段坍塌。虽然意大利官员表示，事故发生时桥下不太可能有人经过，但事发时桥面有车辆行驶。

Italy's Civil Protection Agency says around 30 vehicles and several heavy duty trucks were in the affected area. And as of last night, officials had confirmed that at least 26 people have been killed and 16 people were injured. The Morandi Bridge is made out of concrete. It opened in 1968.

意大利民防总局表示，事发时受影响地区有约30辆车和多辆重型卡车。截至昨晚，官方确认这起事故已至少造成26人死亡，另有16人受伤。“莫兰迪桥”由混凝土制成。这座大桥于1968年通车。

It's part of a major highway for residents and tourists. The bridge helps link the Italian Coast with the French cities to the west. One eyewitness said he thought he saw lightening hit the bridge shortly before it collapsed.

对居民和游客来说，该大桥是一条主要公路的一部分。这座大桥连接意大利沿海地区与法国城市。一名目击者表示，在大桥坍塌前不久，他曾以为他看到闪电击中了该座桥。

Police say violent storms were partly responsible but maintenance on the bridge was also taking place when it gave way. Authorities believe the collapse was due to a structural failure. Exactly what kind and what factors led to that will be investigated in the days ahead.

警方表示，强风暴是导致大桥坍塌的部分原因，而桥梁坍塌时正在进行维修工作。有关部门认为，这起坍塌事故的原因在于结构损坏。接下来几天，有关部门将就大桥坍塌的确切原因进行调查。