A motorway bridge collapse has killed at least three people and injured seven as spans of the partly built structure collapsed one after the other.

The accident took place on Tuesday in Anseong, about 70km (43.5 miles) from Seoul, when five 50-metre steel support structures collapsed in turn after being hoisted into place by a crane, the Yonhap news agency reported. The collapse was captured by the rear-facing dashcam of a car on a road beneath.

The national fire agency said three people died and six were injured, including five who were in a critical condition. Other reports said there were seven injured.

Authorities were searching for another person who was thought to be buried under rubble at the site, the fire agency said.

Hunting for survivors, rescue workers at the site were seen examining twisted metal struts and fractured concrete slabs below the columns of the highway bridge.

South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, called for mobilisation of all available personnel and resources to rescue any missing people and to ensure public safety.

The transport ministry said it had dispatched officials to the scene.

With Reuters