The collapsed Sheikh Mansour Bridge in El-Marg following a fire on Tuesday revealed the deceleration of the state bodies in doing their jobs, said Khaled Abdel Azeem, head of the National Institute for Transport, on Tuesday.
During his interview on Al-Arabiya channel on Tuesday, Abdel Azeem said that the country needs a new body that works on maintenance and monitoring the state of bridges in Egypt.
Whatever the reason for the collapse of the bridge, it does not relieve those in charge from their responsibilities, according to Abdel Azeem, suggesting that the overload on the bridge is the main reason behind its collapse.
The Sheikh Mansour Bridge is one of the most vital traffic ways and the country should provide it with security and protection, he added. Initial investigations indicated that an electric short circuit in the huts and kiosks under the bridge caused the fire underneath the bridge, the transportation expert said.
The fire extended to the bridge and as the metallic frame of the bridge was affected by the heat coming from the fire, the bridge collapsed. Already existing cracks in the bridge attributed to its collapse as well, according to Abdel Azeem.
The expert added that a consultant from the Road and Bridges Authority has been sent to write a report about the state of the bridge to guarantee the bridge’s safety.
On the other hand, president of El-Marg municipality Awad Ahmed Awad told Youm7 that a butane gas cylinder that exploded amid clashes between residents caused the fire and subsequent collapse, while a close-by shop owner, who informed the authorities about the fire, confirmed the short circuit narrative.
The investigation is still ongoing to identify the main reason behind the fire and collapse of the bridge.