Anger grows in Italy as bridge toll rises to 38

A frantic search was underway today for survivors of a bridge collapse in Genoa as the death toll rose to 38 and the government blamed the company in charge of the country's motorways for the disaster.

A vast span of the Morandi bridge caved in during a heavy rainstorm in the northern port city on Tuesday, sending about 35 cars and several trucks plunging 45 metres (150 feet) onto the railway tracks below.

The victims include children aged eight, 12 and 13, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said today, adding that more people were still missing.

The government said it intended to revoke the contract of Autostrade per l'Italia, a private sector company owned by Atlantia, and slap it with a fine of 150 million euros ($170 million).

Deputy prime minister Luigi Di Maio, who is due to arrive in Genoa on Wednesday morning, said the tragedy "could have been avoided".

"Autostrade should have done maintenance and didn't do it," he said. Rescuers recovered three bodies overnight, fire official Emanuele Gissi told