Over 20 people injured in bridge collapse near Helsinki

HELSINKI - More than 20 people, mainly school pupils, were injured near Helsinki when a pedestrian bridge collapsed on Thursday morning, said regional authorities.

The bridge near a building site in the city of Espoo, west of Helsinki, was a temporary construction, but is open for general use.

The Helsinki region health authority HUS reported that 24 people had been taken to hospital. Some have serious injuries but no one was reported in critical condition.

The regional rescue authority said earlier that about 27 people, mostly minors, have been injured.

The pupils were from a school in the Kalasatama district in Helsinki. The school's principal confirmed to national broadcaster Yle that they had gone to Espoo on a school outing.

Yle reported that the pedestrian bridge was the property of the city of Espoo and not of the company carrying out construction work in the vicinity.

Police said the accident happened around 9:30 am local time. The bridge was made mainly of plywood plates.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin expressed their compassion on social media after the accident was reported.