At least 630 people have been evacuated from homes near the major motorway bridge which collapsed in Genoa, northern Italy, over fears about the stability of remaining sections of the structure.

Around 1,000 rescue workers continued to search for survivors among towering slabs of concrete and twisted steel after part of the Morandi Bridge plunged around 45 metres, killing 39 people on the eve of Italy’s biggest summer holiday.

Italy’s interior minister, Matteo Salvini, declined to say how many people might still be buried in the debris, and said trying to locate them was particularly difficult due to the holiday.

“It’s not easy to distinguish between who don’t respond because they are on the other side of the world and turned off their phone to relax on vacation, and who’s not responding because they are under the rubble,” he said.

He said he hoped the death toll would not rise. “Miracles are still possible,” Mr Salvini added.

Politicians have squabbled over who to blame, with Italy’s deputy prime minister, Luigi Di Maio, saying the state will have to take over the country’s motorways if companies who have concessions are not able to do the job properly.

Speaking on Italian radio two days after the collapse, he also said the concessionary should have invested more in security instead of being concerned about dividends.

Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Show all 50 1 /50 Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Morandi bridge after it collapsed, in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A satellite image of the collapsed section of the Morandi Bridge EPA/European Space Imaging Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers inspect the rubble and wreckages AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Night view of the Morandi bridge collapsed in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Displaced people from their homes EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers work among the rubble AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers inspect the rubble and wreckages AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A rescuer look over towards part of the Morandi motorway bridge three days after a section collapsed in the northwestern city Genoa on August 16, 2018. - Italy's populist government was on a war footing with the Italian operator of the bridge that collapsed and killed dozens in the port city of Genoa as desperate efforts to find survivors in the rubble went into a third day. (Photo by Piero CRICIATTI / Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP / AFP)PIERO CRICIATTI/AFP/Getty Images PIERO CRICIATTI AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A satellite image of the collapsed section of the Morandi Bridge EPA/European Space Imaging Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa People living in the buildings in the area have been evacuated EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Excavators dig into the rubble at the site of the highway-bridge-collapse disaster EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06952160 Night view of the Morandi bridge collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 15 August 2018 (issued on 16 August 2018). People living in the buildings in the area have been evacuated following the collapse of a section of the Morandi bridge because there is a risk the other parts of the bridge could fall. The death toll for Tuesday's highway-bridge-collapse disaster has risen to 39, according to reports on 15 August, and the Italian Government proclaimed national mourning for the Genoa tragedy. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A lorry stands on the edge AFP/Getty Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06951240 Displaced people from their homes in the area of he highway-bridge-collapse disaster in Genoa, Italy, 15 August 2018. People living in the buildings in the area have been evacuated following the collapse of a section of the Morandi bridge because there is a risk the other parts of the bridge could fall. The death toll for Tuesday's highway-bridge-collapse disaster has risen to 39, according to reports on 15 August, and the Italian Government will proclaim national mourning for the Genoa tragedy. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A general view shows apartment buildings under the Morandi motorway bridge in background one day after a section collapsed in Genoa on August 15, 2018. - Nearly 40 people died on August 14, 2018 when a giant motorway bridge collapsed in Genoa in northwestern Italy, with the death toll expected to mount further. (Photo by Piero CRUCIATTI / AFP)PIERO CRUCIATTI/AFP/Getty Images PIERO CRUCIATTI AFP/Getty Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A large section of the Morandi viaduct, of which the A10 motorway runs, collapsed in Genoa Reuters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa The collapsed Morandi Bridge is seen in the Italian port city of Genoa August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. STRINGER Reuters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers at work amid the rubble EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa The collapsed Morandi Bridge is seen in the Italian port city of Genoa, Italy August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini STEFANO RELLANDINI Reuters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A large section of the Morandi viaduct, of which the A10 motorway runs, collapsed in Genoa AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A picture taken on August 14, 2018 shows vehicles standing on a part of a giant motorway bridge after a section collapsed earlier in Genoa. - At least 22 people were killed on August 14 when the giant motorway bridge collapsed, with several more feared dead in what Italy's transport minister described as an "immense tragedy". The collapse, which saw a vast stretch of the A10 freeway tumble on to railway lines in the northern port city, was the deadliest bridge failure in Italy for years, and the country's deputy transport minister warned the death toll could climb further. (Photo by ANDREA LEONI / AFP)ANDREA LEONI/AFP/Getty Images ANDREA LEONI AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa An injured man talks to reporters as he leave the site where the Morandi highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, northern Italy, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. A large section of the bridge collapsed over an industrial area in the Italian city of Genova during a sudden and violent storm, leaving vehicles crushed in rubble below. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) Alexander Zemlianichenko AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A destroyed truck is pictured as rescuers are at work amid rubble and wreckage after a section of a giant motorway bridge collapsed earlier in Genoa on August 14, 2018. - At least 22 people were killed on August 14 when the giant motorway bridge collapsed, with several more feared dead in what Italy's transport minister described as an "immense tragedy". The collapse, which saw a vast stretch of the A10 freeway tumble on to railway lines in the northern port city, was the deadliest bridge failure in Italy for years, and the country's deputy transport minister warned the death toll could climb further. (Photo by ANDREA LEONI / AFP)ANDREA LEONI/AFP/Getty Images ANDREA LEONI AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescue workers at the collapsed Morandi Bridge Reuters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers are at work amid the rubble of a section of a giant motorway bridge that collapsed earlier, on August 14, 2018 in Genoa. - Rescuers scouring through the wreckage after part of a viaduct of the A10 freeway collapsed said there were "tens of victims", while images from the scene showed an entire carriageway plunged on to railway lines below. (Photo by ANDREA LEONI / AFP)ANDREA LEONI/AFP/Getty Images ANDREA LEONI AFP/Getty Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Cars seen among the rubble Vigili Del Fuoco/AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948876 Rescuers at the site of the collapsed bridge in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa on Tuesday. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said Tuesday. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa TOPSHOT - A picture taken on August 14, 2018 in Genoa shows a section of a giant motorway bridge that collapsed earlier injuring several people. - Rescuers scouring through the wreckage after part of a viaduct of the A10 freeway collapsed said there were "tens of victims", while images from the scene showed an entire carriageway plunged on to railway lines below. (Photo by Andrea LEONI / AFP)ANDREA LEONI/AFP/Getty Images ANDREA LEONI AFP/Getty Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948886 Rescuers at work amid the rubble after a highway bridge collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa on Tuesday. Several people have died, rescue sources said. Several vehicles were crushed under the rubble with dead people inside, the sources said. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa This handout picture provided by the Italian police (Polizia di Stato) on August 14, 2018 shows a collapsed section of a viaduct on the A10 motorway in Genoa. - A section of a viaduct on the A10 motorway collapsed on August 14, 2018 in Genoa, Italian firefighters said, with cars and trucks trapped among the rubble. Television images showed the viaduct in the mist with a huge chunk missing, with Italian media reporting that 200 metres of the "Morandi" bridge had fallen away. (Photo by Handout / ITALIAN POLICE / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE MANDATORY CREDIT Â« AFP PHOTO / HO / POLIZIA DI STATO Â» - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSHANDOUT/AFP/Getty Images HANDOUT AFP/Getty Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge ANSA via AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescue teams on the site EPA/Italian Firefighters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948834 A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said Tuesday. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948839 A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said Tuesday. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948835 A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said Tuesday. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers at the site of the collapsed bridge EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948817 A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said Tuesday. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Both sides of the highway fell AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948809 A handout photo made available by Italian firefighters shows rescue teams on the site of a collapsed bridge over the A10 highway in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa on Tuesday. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. EPA/ITALIAN FIREFIGHTERS HANDOUT TO BE USED SOLELY TO ILLUSTRATE NEWS REPORTING OR COMMENTARY ON THE FACTS OR EVENTS DEPICTED IN THIS IMAGE; NO ARCHIVING; NO LICENSING +++ HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES ITALIAN FIREFIGHTERS HANDOUT EPA/Italian Firefighters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa The site of a collapsed bridge EPA/Italian Firefighters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa https://twitter.com/BattelliSergio/status/1029306695586066433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1029306695586066433&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fworld-europe-45183624 Sergio Battelli/Twitter Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescue teams on the site EPA/Italian Firefighters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948816 A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said Tuesday. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa epa06948815 A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy, 14 August 2018. Both sides of the highway fell. Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said Tuesday. The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain. The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river. EPA/LUCA ZENNARO LUCA ZENNARO EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Italy, Genoa - bridge collapse https://twitter.com/emergenzavvf/status/1029312140652564481 Vigili del Fuoco/Twitter

Authorities have called for the quick removal of tons of debris from a dry river bed so the rubble doesn’t create a makeshift dam if heavy rains fall in the flood-prone city.

Debris must also be cleared from railroard tracks, a vital link especially now Genoa is largely cut in half by the loss of such a key artery, the Italian prime minister, Giuseppe Conte said.

Concerns over the stability of remaining large sections of the bridge prompted a wider evacuation order from nearby apartments, some of which are practically in the shadow of the elevated motorway. Firefighters went inside some of the vacated apartments briefly to retrieve documents and, in at least one home, pet cats.

After leading an emergency cabinet meeting in Genoa, Mr Conte said there were 39 confirmed dead and 16 injured, including nine in serious condition. Three children were among those killed, Mr Salvini said.

The dead included four French citizens travelling to a music festival and two Albanians.

Italian motorway bridge collapses near Genoa

The 50-year-old Morandi Bridge, named after the engineer who designed it, is part of a toll motorway run by Autostrade per l’Italia linking the port city of Genoa with southern France and Milan.

Genoa prosecutor Francesco Cozzi told reporters the investigation into the collapse was focused on human causes, specifically any possible design flaws in the bridge’s construction or any inadequate maintenance.

He said he didn’t know who might be responsible, but added: “It wasn’t an accident.”

Asked if authorities had any warning the bridge could be dangerous, Mr Cozzi indicated no serious safety concerns had reached his office before the collapse. Otherwise, “none of us would have driven over that highway 20 times a month, as we do”, he said.

A €20m (£18m) project to upgrade the bridge’s safety had already been approved, with public bids to be submitted by September.

One expert, Antonio Brencich at the University of Genoa, had previously called the bridge “a failure of engineering”. Other engineers, noting its age, said corrosion and decades of wear and tear from weather also could have been factors in the collapse.

ITV news anchor Tom Bradby criticized for 'insensitive' coverage of Genoa bridge disaster

Mr Conte said the government wouldn’t wait until the investigation was completed to revoke the concession Autostrade per l’Italia, which operates many of the nation’s toll motorways. The next company would be held to “more stringent” rules for maintenance, he said.

Mr Di Maio, of the anti-business Five Star Movement, alleged Autostrade’s holding company took profits “instead of investing money for maintenance.”

Mr Toninelli, the transportation and infrastructure minister and another populist Five Star leader, said his ministry had started procedures so Autostrade could be fined up to €150m.

It emerged the governing populist party wrote off safety fears about the bridge as a children’s “fairy story,” with a statement on the Five Star Movement’s website in 2013 describing warnings of “the imminent collapse of the Morandi Bridge” as a “favoletta”, or children’s fairytale.