A section of the I-95 freeway, one of the busiest in the east of the country, collapsed on Sunday morning in Philadelphia after a fire in a tanker truck, authorities estimate that it will take several months to restore traffic on this crucial axis.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said at a Sunday afternoon news conference that no one traveling on Interstate 95 was injured, but authorities are working to “identify anyone who could have been caught in the fire”.
The fire in the tanker involved broke out around 6:20 a.m. (10:20 a.m. GMT), while traffic is generally light on Sundays at this time.
Impressive footage from local TV stations showed a vast cloud of black smoke from the blaze, as well as the four lanes of this section of the freeway plunging steeply towards a lesser road running below.
It was on this secondary road that the truck caught fire.
“This morning, a major fire under I-95 (…) caused the freeway to collapse,” confirmed Sarah Peterson, spokeswoman for Philadelphia City Hall, in a statement sent to AFP. .
Firefighters “arrived on the scene and discovered (…) a large fire coming from a vehicle”, added Captain Derek Bowmer, of the Philadelphia firefighters, during a press conference.
The I-95 freeway is a major highway on the east coast of the United States. Its closure at the northeast entrance to Philadelphia, a city of some 1.5 million people, promises to severely disrupt traffic to and from New York.
Its more than 3,000 kilometers connect the state of Maine, in the extreme northeast of the country, to Miami, Florida’s largest city, in the southeast.
“This is a major artery for people and goods, and its closure will have significant consequences for the city and region until reconstruction is complete,” tweeted US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
The Minister specified that the vehicle at the origin of the fire was a tank truck and thanked the firefighters and other rescuers who intervened.
Local media reported that Philadelphia police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were looking for the driver of this truck, whose whereabouts are unknown. find.
The replacement of the damaged section could take weeks and Mr Buttigieg warned users, saying he expected a “significant impact on regional traffic”.
“I-95 will be affected for a long, long time,” said Tumar Alexander, general manager of Philadelphia services, quoted by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“City and state departments are working to respond to the impact on area residents and travelers affected by the road closure,” the city spokeswoman said. Sarah Peterson.
Governor Shapiro, for his part, said he would sign a disaster declaration on Monday to free up funds for repairs.
US President Joe Biden has been informed of the situation and his teams are in contact with local authorities to provide them with assistance, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said on Twitter.
Residents told local media they heard several explosions, but no casualties have been reported so far.
The fire was brought under control in the morning and the expressway closed by the police in both directions in the immediate vicinity of the accident, said the city spokeswoman.
12/06/2023 03:29:43 – Washington (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
