Due to the collapse of the footbridge, the head of the bridge builders was dismissed until the end of the investigation

Prague - The head of the bridge builders at the Technical Administration of Communications (TSK), Jan Zemánek, was dismissed from his position today until the investigation into the bridge collapse in Prague's Troja is completed. TSK spokesperson Barbora Lišková announced this to ČTK. The city leadership requested Zemánek's temporary dismissal due to the building's collapse on Saturday. The bridge was not in good condition, and the cause of the collapse is still unknown. Two people sustained serious injuries in the accident, while another two suffered back contusions. A temporary pontoon bridge may be constructed at the site of the collapsed bridge.

"TSK is a joint-stock company and bears full responsibility for the management of property, which the city orders from it. Until the investigation is completed, someone else should be appointed to lead the bridge team," said Deputy Mayor Petr Dolínek (ČSSD) to ČTK today. Who will lead the team will depend on the company's decision.

"Based on the decision of the General Director of the Technical Administration of Communications of the Capital City of Prague, Petr Smolka, Mr. Jan Zemánek has been dismissed from the position of head of the bridge department," subsequently announced TSK spokesperson Lišková. She has not yet announced who will replace Zemánek.

Prague has also asked TSK's board chairman Smolka to review the company's internal regulations and procedures related to bridges. It should also be investigated who is to blame for the collapse, and reports from bridge inspections will also be examined. "If there was a mistake within TSK, I will want personnel accountability to be established at other places as well, not just in the bridge section. However, we must wait for the conclusions of the police investigation," said Dolínek.

According to Dolínek, experts from schools, companies, and other organizations already offered assistance to the city over the weekend. Among them was, for example, the Czech Technical University (ČVUT). The remains of the bridge should be transported to a local concrete plant in the coming days, where an expert will examine them.

The larger portion of the 260-meter-long bridge collapsed into the river. The remaining damaged structure stayed on both pillars. Reports from previous years had already pointed to the problematic state of the 1984 construction, so experts continually monitored it through electronic monitoring. They received updates on their computers every two minutes. Additionally, inspections of all parts were conducted twice a year. The last signal from the electronic monitoring was sent on Saturday at 13:16, after which the bridge collapsed.