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American Morning

Divers Search for Bridge Collapse Victims

Aired May 28, 2002 - 08:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In the American heartland, divers on the Arkansas River searching for more victims from an I-40 bridge collapse in the eastern part of Oklahoma. The work is slow. It can be dangerous.

David Mattingly once again live in Webbers Falls with the very latest on what is happening there.

Is the rain coming down, David?

Good morning.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's coming down, Bill. In fact, just as you were coming to me, the sky opened up just a little bit. We're keeping our eye on the sky as well as on the river today. We've got thunderstorms in the area, more rain. That means there's going to be an even tougher river current for the divers to have to deal with today.

Now, diving operations were suspended shortly yesterday afternoon because of rain like this. Work did go into the night with the recovery of more bodies, bringing the total so far to seven.

As they pull automobiles out of the riverbed, something they hadn't anticipated, it stirs up sediment in the river and divers literally have trouble seeing their hands in front of their faces at times. They brought in sonar equipment to map the riverbed, so that helps. And they are also bringing in more cranes today, Bill.

They're all set to really get going on this recovery operation. All they need right now is a little cooperation from the weather, and so far this morning, they're just not getting it -- Bill.

HEMMER: David, thank you.

David Mattingly again.

Eastern Oklahoma, it continues to be a tough job there.

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