A former Italian footballer has spoken of the "apocalypse" he witnessed as he had a lucky escape from a collapsing bridge in the Italian city of Genoa.

Davide Capello, a goalkeeper who used to play for Serie A side Cagliari, went down with the bridge in his car but was able to emerge from the rubble alive.

The 33-year-old, who now works as a firefighter, survived after 200 metres of the Morandi viaduct crashed to the ground on Monday.

:: Live updates: Rescue efforts continue

Image: Hundreds of emergency workers are at the scene in Genoa

He told Sky TG24: "I was driving along the bridge, and at a certain point I saw the road in front of me collapse, and I went down with the car."


Capello said he was able to clamber out of his car, which was "attached to a pylon", and make his way down to where firefighters were waiting below.

"I was able to get out... I don't know how my car wasn't crushed. It seemed like a scene from a film, it was the apocalypse," he added.

Woman winched to safety from bridge rubble

"I was convinced it was going to end badly but thank God I've lived to tell the tale."

At least 38 people have been confirmed dead following the disaster, which the Italian transport minister has called an "immense tragedy".

The dead include at least one child, according to the Corriere newspaper, quoting the Interior Ministry.

Graphic content! Body found in bridge rubble

At least 16 people have been injured, but the figures are expected to rise.

What caused the collapse is still unknown and prosecutors said they were opening an investigation into the disaster.

Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli called the incident "unacceptable" and said "whoever made a mistake must pay" if negligence is found to be a factor in the collapse.

Desperate search for bridge collapse survivors

Witnesses said they heard a roar as the 45-metre bridge collapsed in torrential rain during midday traffic.

Authorities said at least 30 cars and three heavy duty vehicles were on the 80-metre section of the bridge that collapsed.

More than 300 rescue workers and dog crews have been sent to the scene as the search for survivors continues.