Two killed after bridge collapses onto motorway

Two people were reportedly killed in the bridge collapse Credit: REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Two people have been killed, and as many as 20 others injured, after a bridge collapsed onto a busy motorway in Johannesburg.

The bridge, which was under construction and covered with scaffolding, fell on top of a stream of cars which were driving down the city's M1 highway on Wednesday.

According to reports the collapse happened near a busy sliproad leading to the South African capital's financial district.

The bridge was still under construction when it collapsed Credit: REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

A privately-owned emergency services company who were helping with the aftermath of the collapse, told Reuters people were still believed to be trapped under the bridge late into the afternoon.

Chris Botha, a spokesman for Netcare 911, said:

Separate reports from witnesses who spoke to Reuters confirmed paramedics were still working to to free people from a mini-bus taxi that had been "smashed up" by the collapsed red metal bridge.