WASHINGTON, May 27: Emergency authorities held out few hopes for survivors after a barge knocked a 180-metre section out of an interstate highway bridge in eastern Oklahoma on Sunday, sending around 10 vehicles into a river.

Divers began searching the Arkansas River, after emergency authorities spent several hours trying to secure the barge which had hit the bridge.

Between four and five people were rescued and taken to hospital, authorities said, amid conflicting reports over the figure.

One of those rescued was in critical condition after the incident, which happened at Webbers Falls near the town of Sallisaw, according to Rebecca Smith for the Muskogee County Emergency Management Services.

“Obviously we’ve moved from rescue mode to recovery mode,” she said.

According to Lieutenant Chris West of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, five people were rescued, after falling into the river in three vehicles: two tractor trailers and a car.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was unable to give any further update of the figure late Sunday, but confirmed that dive operations were now underway.

The extent of damage was like “something caused by an earthquake in California,” West said.

“The loss of life is unbearable for all of us. This is happening on Memorial Day weekend when people are traveling from all over the country,” Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating said, adding that he had already approved a disaster declaration.

The National Transportation Safety Board was the lead agency investigating the disaster, according to Keating.

Congressman Brad Carson said he expected the bridge to be out of use for about six months.

Authorities thought it unlikely there would be survivors in the vehicles, submerged in about 3.5 meters (11 feet) of water. Between 10 and 20 people are expected to be found inside the automobiles, Smith said.

Officials are investigating an account that the towboat captain, who was pushing two barges upriver for loading, fell ill.—AFP