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Officials say at least 65 injured as videos on TV and social media showed the overpass falling on to cars below.

A partially collapsed metro overpass has claimed at least 23 lives in Mexico City, where rescuers worked through the night to free trapped passengers and search for victims.

Mexico City’s mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum, said via Twitter that at least 65 people had been taken to hospital after the collapse near the Los Olivos metro station, which occurred at about 10.30pm on Monday.

Videos on Mexican television and social media showed train cars hanging in mid-air as sirens blared nearby. Footage from security cameras showed the overpass collapsing on to a busy thoroughfare as a pair of wagons fell on to passing traffic.

Another video showed emergency medical crews and firefighters combing through wreckage looking for survivors. Families of people unaccounted for also searched the scene.

“We only heard a thunderous noise and everything started coming apart,” a survivor identifying herself as Mariana told the newspaper El Universal. “We were sent flying and hit the ceiling.”

Sheinbaum said a support beam had given way, causing the overpass to collapse. “Firefighters, public safety personnel are working. Various hospitals attending. We will give more information shortly,” she added.

Rescue efforts were briefly interrupted at midnight because the partially hanging train was very weak and a crane had to be brought in. There were still people trapped inside the train, though Sheinbaum said it was unclear if they were alive.

*theguardian