Bridge collapse in Finland injures at least two dozen, mostly children

The children were part of a group of eighth-grade students returning from a field trip.

Around 24 people, a majority of them children, were injured on Thursday when a temporary pedestrian bridge collapsed in the Finnish city of Espoo, just outside the capital Helsinki, rescue service said.

A view of a collapsed pedestrian bridge in which around 24 people, a majority of them children, were injured in Espoo, Finland. (via REUTERS)

The injuries were not life threatening, the Helsinki Hospital Authority said in a statement.

The children were part of a group of eighth-grade students returning from a field trip, Finnish daily Helsinging Sanomat reported, quoting a student who had participated in the excursion and who was not injured.

Police said the temporary bridge had been built from plywood while construction was ongoing in the area.

Finnish media published pictures of at least five people lying on the ground while being attended to by rescue workers.