10 Deadliest Bridge Collapses In History

Bridges are an amazing feat of engineering and technology, but there have been rare and tragic incidents of bridge failures. These failures often result in dozens, if not hundreds, of deaths and injuries. Bridges can collapse because of unexpected impacts or, more typically, poor design, bad weather, and too much weight. Due to the nature of the chaos that occurs during a collapse, the estimates of fatalities can vary. So, here, we explore ten of the most notable deadly bridge collapses since 1800 and the most recent collapse in Baltimore.

Click Here for a comprehensive table of the 30 deadliest collapses since 1800.

Most Recent: Baltimore Bridge Collapse, United States, 2024 - 6 Deaths

On Monday at 1:30 AM on March 26, 2024, a massive cargo ship from Singapore rammed into a column that supported the Francis Scott Key Bridge on the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Marlyand. Video footage shows the vessel experiencing electrical troubles, with lights flickering, as it slowly careens toward the pillar. Upon impact, the bridge collapsed. At least six deaths occurred, and rescue efforts were suspended on Tuesday, the next day. The 4-lane bridge operated a 1.6-mile distance, but the 1,000-foot-long ship, named Dali, caused instant failure upon hitting the support pylon. Dali had already been involved in another collision in 2016 after veering into a stone facade in Belgium's Antwerp port.

1. Ponte das Barcas, Portugal, 1809 - 4,000 Deaths

One of the deadliest bridge collapses in history took place in Portugal during the Peninsular War. When Napoleon's French forces invaded the Portuguese city of Porto, locals were desperate to escape. Many tried to flee across the Ponte das Barcas, a Ponton bridge constructed in 1806. The frenzy of people coming across the bridge was too much weight for the bridge to handle. The bridge collapsed, sending thousands of people into the Douro River below. An estimated 4,000 Portuguese civilians died drowning in the river.

2. Eitaibashi Bridge, Japan, 1807 - 1,400 Deaths

At number two on our list of most notable collapses is Japan's Eitaibashi Bridge. Originally built from wood in the late 17th century, the bridge stood over the Sumidagawa River. This was an important pathway to Edo, a place known today as Tokyo. The bridge connected local people to the city. The shogunate also made an arrangement with the local townspeople, allowing them to maintain the bridge for 88 years until tragedy struck. In 1807, a local festival brought crowds of people to the area around the bridge. With so many people on it, the Eitaibashi Bridge actually broke. This resulted in the death of 1,400 people. Later, the bridge was rebuilt. However, this bridge also faced a tragedy. In 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake destroyed the bridge in its wake. There is little information available about casualties from the second collapse.

3. Pont de la Basse-Chaîne, France, 1850 - 226 Deaths

Just five years after the Yarmouth suspension bridge accident, listed below at number 5, another tragic suspension bridge collapsed in Europe. This time, the tragedy struck France. On April 16, 1850, a combination of bad weather and military strength caused the downfall of the Basse-Chaine Bridge. Nearly 500 French soldiers began marching across the 335-foot-long suspension bridge in high winds. The strong winds and soldiers marching caused the bridge to sway. The wire cables snapped under the pressure, and an old cast-iron tower collapsed on some of the soldiers. Around 226 people died in the bridge collapse.

4. Whangaehu River Rail Bridge, New Zealand, 1953 - 151 Deaths

Not all bridge collapses are caused by human error. Some bridge collapses are the result of Mother Nature and elements outside our control. This was the case for the Whangaehu River Rail Bridge accident in New Zealand. The bridge collapsed on Christmas Eve in 1953. A volcanic mudslide from the nearby Mount Ruapehu undermined one of the bridge piers at Tangiwai. This happened just minutes before a passenger train went over the bridge. With the loss of support, the weight of the train crushed the bridge. Six carriages derailed into the river in the bridge collapse, resulting in the death of 151 people.

5. Yarmouth Suspension Bridge, England, 1845 - 79 Deaths

The afternoon of May 2, 1845, was a celebration in the English city of Great Yarmouth. People were eagerly awaiting the arrival of William Cooke's Circus. The clown Arthur Nelson even planned to ride the River Bure's flood tide in a tub led by four geese. It was a truly magical sight; everyone wanted to see this spectacle. Thousands of spectators lined the riverbank, with people even crowding together on the suspension bridge over the water. When the clown went under the bridge, the onlookers shifted from one side to another to get a good view of the clown. The weight change on the bridge caused the bridge chains to break. Children were quickly crushed against the railing, and the deck fell into the river. The collapse of the bridge was because of an imperfectly welded joint. The weight on the bridge caused the joint to break. Around 79 people died in the bridge collapse.

6. Cantilever Quebec Bridge, Canada, 1907 - 75 Deaths

Another bridge with construction warnings that went ignored was the Cantilever Bridge. The construction of the cantilever bridge began in 1900 in Quebec, Canada. When workers built the bridge, they noted that certain components were becoming warped and distorted. However, these distortions and notes from the workers weren't taken seriously. Construction on the bridge continued; however, the mechanical issues that were ignored didn't go away. On August 30, 1907, this resulted in the collapse of a portion of the bridge. This happened during construction. The crash was so loud that people nearby came out of their homes, thinking that the bridge collapse was actually an earthquake. There were 86 workers on the bridge when it collapsed, and only 11 survived. Despite the disaster, the government later redesigned and rebuilt the bridge. However, a portion of the bridge collapsed again during its construction, resulting in the death of 13 more people. In 1917, the bridge was opened to traffic and is still in use today.

7. Dixon Bridge Disaster, Illinois, 1873 - 46 Deaths

In 1873, Illinois faced a major bridge collapse. The Dixon Bridge was a controversial bridge built in Illinois. After warnings from city engineer's about the bridge proposal, the Dixon City Council moved forward with the bridge design and build. On May 4, 1873, the bridge broke apart without any warning. The breaking of the bridge sent 200 people and six horses into the Rock River below. People fell from a height of 18 feet. While some people survived the tumble, 56 people were seriously injured and 46 people died.

8. Silver Bridge, Ohio, 1967 - 46 Deaths

Many bridge collapses have prompted higher safety measures. This was the case for the collapse of Silver Bridge in 1967. The bridge originally opened in 1928 and connected West Virginia and Ohio. The bridge was officially called the Point Peasant Bridge, but most people called it the Silver Bridge because of its aluminum color. The suspension bridge started to keel over on December 15, 1967. This happened slowly on the Ohio side, and cars on the bridge plunged into the river below. The slow bridge collapse killed 46 people. An investigation later found that the cause of the collapse was a crack in one of the bridge's eyebars. The crack was so small it was undetectable to the naked eye. The collapse of the Silver Bridge was an accident that had a major impact on changing safety measures for bridges in the United States. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed an act that developed national bridge inspection standards with the state highway departments.

9. Morandi Bridge, Italy, 2018 - 43 Deaths

The Morandi Bridge was a landmark in Italy for its artistic design and history. The bridge opened in 1967 in the port city of Genoa. While the bridge remained strong for several years, on August 14, 2018, some of the bridge cables snapped during a heavy summer rain storm. The snapped cables caused a section of the bridge to break away, resulting in cars on the bridge falling into the Polcevera River below. Dozens of cars fell more than 150 feet into the river. The collapse caused 43 deaths and 16 injuries. An investigation found that cracks in the bridge's concrete allowed water and salt to seep into the steel cables, corroding them.

10. Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Florida, 1980 - 35 Deaths

The final bridge collapse on this list is the Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse of 1980. On the morning of May 9, 1980, a squall engulfed the Sunshine Skyway bridge in Florida. The bridge spanned Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg. The storm resulted in a power outage for surrounding vessels. The 20-ton freighter MV Summit Venture collided with one of the bridge's support beams. This resulted in a 1200-foot section of the bridge collapsing into the river below. Six cars, a truck, and a Greyhound bus fell into the water, falling 150 feet. The collapse of the bridge killed 35 people.

Final Thoughts

Throughout history, bridges have collapsed around the world. Sometimes, bridge collapses have resulted in tragedy, killing and injuring the people around. The serious consequences of bridge collapses make safety a top priority in building bridges. With advancements in technology and engineering, we are able to learn from our mistakes. Today, bridges are safer than ever before. While accidents can still happen, we can learn from them and continue to make bridges better.

The 30 Deadliest Bridge Collapses Since 1800, Sorted By Casualties

Note: Casualty estimates are uncertain and can vary. This list was sorted by highest estimates.