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In Emsland, Lower Saxony, a ship collapsed a bridge over the Dortmund-Ems Canal after colliding with the structure. A police spokesman said the people were not injured in the accident in the Emsbüren community. Boat traffic in the canal stopped after the incident in the affected section.
The boat was heading south, according to police, when it hit the bridge around 9:15 a.m. The unloaded freighter rammed the center section with its bow and pulled it out of its anchorage, whereupon the bridge element sank into the channel.
The insect probably protruded too far from the water
According to initial investigations by the Meppen Water Protection Police, the unloaded cargo ship may have led to too little ballast water, causing the bow to protrude too far from the channel.
“When and how the bridge element lying in the water can be recovered is not yet completely clear,” said police spokesman Dennis Dickebohm. “The damage should be in the millions.”
The crew itself reported to the police. It is not yet clear when the channel will be navigable again.
The affected Kunkenmühler Bridge was built in 1954 and was over 60 meters long.
