At least 22 people injured in bridge collapse in New Jersey, officials say

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WILDWOOD, N.J. – Several officials were injured in a collapse of the bridge that would have occurred early Saturday night, county officials said.

A bridge collapsed in the 200 block of East Baker Avenue shortly after 18 hours. On Saturday, jailing people and injuring at least 22 people, including children, officials said. No deaths have been reported.

This weekend is the weekend of the New Jersey Firefighters Association, during which thousands of firefighters from all over the state gather in the resort for a convention and fellowship.

It was not immediately clear whether visiting firefighters had been injured or involved in the collapse.

The Cape May Regional Health System said 21 people were taken there, including at least three children. Eleven patients had been released at 10 pm, including all admitted children, said hospital spokeswoman Susan Staeger.

AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City said that at least one additional person had been taken there.

The situation of the remaining hospitalized persons was not known.

The social media posts show a three-story house with what appears to be several bridges collapsed on top of each other.

Photos and videos on social networks showed firefighters trying to lift a piece of decking. The images showed multiple decking levels torn from the building and reduced to beams and splintered wood.

Neighboring resident Joann Devito saw the collapse of a bridge in the street.

"I was sitting on the bridge up there and heard that noise. So I turned to look and saw everything give way, "she said. "I saw two women running and screaming. It was horrible. "

Jim Macheda, a retired firefighter who was in Wildwood on Saturday, said he was driving on East Baker Avenue when he saw the intervention and the aftermath.

"The second floor balcony has been covered over the others," Macheda said.

He added that Wildwood firefighters and surrounding departments were on the scene.

Contribute: The Associated Press

Follow Carol Comegno on Twitter: @CarolComegno

Cherry Hill Courier-Post: This collapse of the New Jersey bridge has injured at least 22 people, according to officials