Belgium: Four Injured in Bridge Collapse During Demolition Work

Four people were injured, one seriously, when part of a highway bridge collapsed near La Louvière, west of Mons, Belgium, according to rescue services. The accident occurred on the E42 highway bridge spanning a canal around noon on Thursday (06.03.2025). The bridge was scheduled for demolition and had been closed to traffic. Several cranes operating on the bridge fell when it collapsed, with one landing on a truck below. According to the Belgian news agency Belga, twelve workers were present at the construction site at the time of the incident. One of the injured is reportedly in critical condition. The bridge under repair between La Louvière and Charleroi collapsed around 14:00 on March 6, 2025. Part of the debris fell into the canal below, affecting both crane operators and workers. A truck was also impacted. Local authorities confirmed there was no direct traffic movement on the construction site as vehicles were being diverted through a temporary parallel bridge built to serve car traffic. As a precautionary measure, the highway and the parallel bridge were completely closed between Charleroi and La Louvière. Traffic has been rerouted via other highways (A501 and E19). Renovation work began in February 2024 with asbestos removal followed by demolition. Canal access had already been restricted that morning due to drying works, and waterway traffic remains suspended until further notice.