(ANSA) - Genoa, August 14 - Fire brigade sources said that, up to now, 35 people are dead after a section of a highway bridge in Genoa collapsed on Tuesday. Five injured people were in hospital in a serious condition.
    Many victims were in crushed vehicles, rescue sources said. Four people were pulled out alive, rescue sources said. A child is among the victims, police sources said.
    Civil Protection Chief Angelo Borrelli said Tuesday that 30 to 35 cars and three lorries were travelling on the Genoa highway viaduct when it collapsed, killing many people. Some lorries ended up in the Polvecera river, Carabinieri police sources said.
    The Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs gave way amid torrential rain. The bridge collapsed after being hit by lightning, some eye witnesses said on Tuesday. "It was just after 11:30 when we saw the lighting bolt hit the bridge and we saw the bridge go down," Pietro M. told ANSA.
    The bridge runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the river.
    One rescuer said that there was a risk the other sections of the Genoa viaduct could cave in. "There is a risk the other parts of the bridge could fall," one of the rescuers said.
    "That's why we have evacuated people from the buildings in the area".
    Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on Tuesday pledged that the people ro blame.
    "Thank you to the hundreds of professionals and volunteers who have been engaged for hours in the rescue and a prayer for the victims and their families," Salvini said on Facebook. "We will go all the way to establish the responsibility for this inhuman disaster".
    Premier Giuseppe Conte will go to Genoa later on Tuesday after a highway bridge collapsed in the northern city, taking many lives. Conte will also spend Wednesday in Genoa, premier office sources said. Conte said Tuesday that he was "profoundly struck by the tragedy in Genoa" and expressed the support of "the whole government to the victims of this tragedy and their families. "I thank the rescue machine which, as always, started work promptly and continues to work with great humanity and professionalism". Transport and Infrastructure Minister Danilo Toninelli on Monday described the collapse of a motorway viaduct in Genoa as an "inhuman tragedy". Genoa Mayor Marco Bucci said Tuesday that the Liguria city will pick itself back up after the "inhuman tragedy" of the disaster. "The city is not on its knees, it will know how to react," Bucci said after a civil protection meeting on the crisis. "The city will know how to continue its path of growth. "Many Italian councils and companies have offered to help us".
    Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, the archbishop of Genoa, voiced sadness. "It is a huge tragedy that leaves everyone dismayed and pained," Bagnasco said. He expressed "pain for the victims and closeness to the families and the injured". Bagnasco added that the Church in the city would open its doors to the people who are unable to access their homes after the disaster.