Tasman Bridge disaster
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Tasman Bridge in Hobart, Tasmania. January 1975. After being hit by bulk carrier MV Lake Illawarra. |
|
| Locale | |
|---|---|
| Hobart, Tasmania. Australia | |
| Collapse | |
| Hit by Lake Illawarra | January 5, 1975 |
| Crosses | |
| Derwent River, Hobart. | |
The Tasman Bridge disaster occurred on Sunday January 5, 1975; at 9:27 p.m. (Australian Eastern Standard Time) in Hobart, Tasmania. Australia. The 7274-ton bulk ore carrier Lake Illawarra was heading for the Electrolytic Zinc Company Pascotine when the ship hit the 18th and 19th pylons of the bridge, destroying a 127 meter (417ft) section which then fell onto the bow of the ship, causing it to sink.
Contents |
[edit] Bridge Hit
Evening traffic was travelling on the bridge at the time of the disaster; although no-one was on the destroyed section when it was hit. Four cars fell down the gap, killing five people. While seven crew members on the Lake Illawarra were trapped and subsequently drowned. Five others motorists escaped from their vehicles when they were stuck on the edge of the gap.
[edit] Response
Police, Emergency Services and the government were forced into action immediately. Within the hour the Sullivans Cove Ferry Company quickly started services between both shores of the river, and continued there services throughout the night. Three private ferries and a government vessel were in place the next day. People on the Eastern Shore quickly became isolated as most schools, hospitals, businesses and offices were located on the Western Shore.
[edit] Aftermath
Services on the Eastern Shore became very limited. Medical services consisted mostly of local clinics, as both hospitals (The Royal Hobart Hospital and the Calvary Hospital in Lenah Valley) are located on the Western Shore. A short drive quickly became a haul 50 kilometres (31 miles) up to the estuary's other bridge in Bridgewater. A few weeks after the collapse, a decision for another bridge at Risdon was brought up. It was for the construction of a temporary bridge, to restore a road link between Hobart and Clarence. Instead of a punt, which was mostly used at the time by ambulance services.
