Bridge collapse in Genoa sparks fears in Europe with outdated infrastructure

In France, the transport minister has warned that the road network is in critical condition after a recent study conducted by the French government, under which one-third of the country's bridges need repairs and that 841 such ones pose potential risks.

In Italy, about 300 bridges are at risk of collapse, including a bridge near Agrigentos in Sicily, designed by the same architect behind the Genoa bridge. Sicilian authorities have shut down the structure due to the damage to the columns, follows the clip.

In Germany a report drafted by the federal highway research institute concluded that 12.4 percent of the country's bridges were in poor condition, and only 12.5 percent were considered in good condition. Many of the bridges were built in the '60s and a traffic like this one was not imagined.

In eastern Germany the situation is best because of the work done in the 1990s and 2000s, following reunification. On the other hand, in the Netherlands, there are concerns about the state of bridges maintained by local authorities, but those under government control are considered to be in good condition.

Fear has also entered the Bulgarian government, which has decided to renew more than 200 bridges and will do so on credit or budget, with works to begin simultaneously, despite Bulgaria being the EU's poorest state.