Divers suspended their search for victims in the Mississippi River last night in what US authorities said would be a slow and dangerous operation.
Working carefully in fast-flowing eddies created by crumpled steel and concrete, divers with only 30cm of visibility had located some of the vehicles that were hurled into the river when the 40-year-old bridge gave way during Wednesday's evening rush hour in Minneapolis.
Four people were confirmed dead, and authorities said eight were still missing, down from as many as 30 earlier, indicating the death toll was certain to rise from the unexplained collapse of the 150-meter span.
More than 50 vehicles plunged 20 metres into the river and onto debris from Interstate 35W as the eight-lane bridge collapsed.
Dozens more people were hurt, many suffering broken bones, head and spinal injuries.