In Lochem, just across the provincial border in Gelderland, two people were killed in an accident involving a bridge under construction. This is reported by the North and East Gelderland Safety Region. Two people were injured. They were taken to the hospital in Deventer. During lifting work an arc fell from the crane. According to the Safety Region, many employees saw the accident happen. Prime Minister Mark Rutte has expressed his condolences on X.
Two people killed in collapse of canal bridge under construction in Lochem
While hoisting a canal bridge this morning around 11.15 am, a bridge section fell out of the hoists and came down. According to a reporter on the scene, one of the arches began to sway. The bow fell on a scaffold or platform where people were working.
Emergency services in Lochem are busy recovering the body of one of the two fatalities from the bridge accident in the Gelderland municipality. The body of the other victim had already been recovered. The body of the second fatal victim from the bridge accident in Lochem was recovered shortly before half past four this afternoon. This is what a spokesperson for the North and East Gelderland Safety Region said to an ANP reporter on site.
For the recovery operation, the help of a specialist team from the fire brigade, the so-called Specialism Technical Assistance (STH). Five of these are in the Netherlands. STH teams are specialized in operations at high altitudes or where there is a risk of collapse. The STH team working in Lochem is based in Zwolle.
Employees of the STH Team in orange suits at the scene of the accident.© SPS Media/Rens Hulman
Two other people were seriously injured. They were admitted to hospital in Deventer. According to a spokesperson for the North and East Gelderland Safety Region, they are out of danger.
Bow came loose
During the accident, part of the bridge under construction became loose and fell. How that could happen is still being investigated. It appears that an arch lifted by a crane became loose for unknown reasons. Two people who were standing on a construction tower about fifty meters high died. The body of one of them remained on that tower for hours.
This concerns a new bridge over the Twentekanaal in Lochem that is being installed by BAM Infra Nederland on behalf of the province of Gelderland. BAM cannot yet report whether the victims are company employees.
Many witnesses
People who saw the fatal accident with the new bridge in Lochem were sheltered in the canteen of an adjacent company on the Goorseweg. These are employees of the construction company that was working on the bridge. Victim Support staff are also present.
Many people saw the accident happen because it was announced that construction of the bridge would start on Wednesday. Some people had come especially to watch the start of the work.
Victim support
Victim Support Netherlands, together with the municipality of Lochem, the GGD and the police, accommodates people who saw the fatal bridge accident in Lochem. It would involve a group of about 35 to 40 people. Employees of the aid organization are on their way to the scene of the accident, De Stentor reports.
The specialist assistance team USAR reports on
‘Very serious accident’
Max Schurink, project leader for the province of Gelderland, saw the accident happen. The project leader does not yet know exactly how the arch, which was hanging in the hoists at a height of thirty meters, came loose and fell down. “But this is a very serious accident. I think it is very dramatic what happened.”
Several emergency services have been called to assist with the accident. There are several fire trucks and ambulances at the location. In addition, trauma helicopters were called from Nijmegen, Amsterdam and Groningen.
The Labor Inspectorate goes to Lochem to investigate the location. The Dutch Safety Board also comes to the construction site. They are examining whether there are “lessons to be learned for the future” from the accident.
‘Touched deeply’
The province of Gelderland, which commissioned the construction of the bridge, issued the statement ‘that the news that the bridge at Lochem has collapsed has deeply affected us. “Our condolences go out to all victims and injured people and their families. We wish everyone involved a lot of strength.
“We would also like to express our appreciation for the enormous efforts of the emergency services on site. In the coming days, as client of this bridge, we will work with all partners involved and the contractor to determine what follow-up steps are necessary.”
Response from Prime Minister Rutte
On X, Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed his condolences to the relatives and those involved in the accident. “Tragic reports about a serious accident in Lochem, where two fatalities and two injuries occurred after the collapse of part of a bridge,” Rutte writes. “I wish the relatives and everyone involved the best of luck.”
New bridge of unique size
The future Nettelhorster Bridge is the new bridge over the Twente Canal that should be ready in June. It is part of the new provincial road N346 Schakel Achterhoek-A1. The first parts of the bridge arrived two weeks ago. According to BAM, the rest would arrive two weeks later, namely the arches of the bridge.
The future Nettelhorster Bridge is the new bridge over the Twente Canal that should be ready in June. It is part of the new provincial road N346 Schakel Achterhoek-A1. The first parts of the bridge arrived two weeks ago. According to BAM, the rest would arrive two weeks later, namely the arches of the bridge.
Due to its size, the bridge cannot be transported in its entirety. The lock at Eefde is too narrow for this and the bridges on the Twente Canal are too low. The bridge is therefore brought to Lochem in parts by boat. “It is an exceptional event, because we do not often build a bridge of this size in the Netherlands,” can be read on the BAM website.
The Nettelhorster Bridge will be almost 140 meters long, 25 meters high and 12.5 meters wide. The arches of the bridge are steel parts from the Aelterman factory in Belgium. These arches form the basis of the bridge and will be welded together at the Streekbeton site in the coming months. This site in Lochem has been specially transformed into a large construction site for this work.
