UPDATE 6-Slow search expected for Minnesota bridge victims

(Updates throughout)

By Todd Melby

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Divers suspended their search for victims hidden in the swirling, murky waters of the Mississippi River at sunset on Thursday, in what authorities said would be a slow and dangerous recovery operation after the worst U.S. bridge collapse in more than 20 years.

Working carefully in fast-flowing eddies created by crumpled steel and concrete, divers with only a foot (30 cm) of visibility had located some of the vehicles that were hurled into the river when the 40-year-old bridge gave way during Wednesday's evening rush hour in Minneapolis.

"There are more than 10 vehicles in the river," Fire Chief Jim Clack said, without saying if there were victims inside.

Four people were confirmed dead and authorities said eight were still missing, down from as many as 30 earlier, indicating the death toll was certain to rise from the unexplained collapse of the 500-foot (150-meter) span. The underwater search will resume on Friday.

More than 50 vehicles plunged 65 feet (20 meters) into the river and onto debris from Interstate 35W as the eight-lane bridge collapsed in a plume of dust, smoke and screams.

Dozens more people were hurt, many suffering broken bones, head and spinal injuries.

"People were pinned. People were partly crushed, talking to rescue workers ... telling them to tell their families goodbye" before they died, Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan said.

Cory Swingen, 32, watched the disaster unfold from a tour boat. "I heard a loud rumbling sound, like a semi (trailer truck) running into a concrete wall ... the whole collapse took about 10 to 15 seconds," he said.

When the dust cleared Swingen was relieved to see dazed people sitting or walking on the collapsed roadway.

"These are horrible images but within each of those images is a story," Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak said. "That car you see tangled in the wreckage is someone's cousin, brother or husband. ... Thank God this wasn't worse."

Federal authorities quickly ruled out terrorism as a cause, but state and federal safety officials said inspections of the heavily traveled bridge had not shown that it was unsafe.

Nevertheless, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters called on all states to immediately inspect similar steel truss bridges, of which the agency said there are 756 nationwide. A few governors already ordered all their states' bridges inspected.

President George. W. Bush scheduled a trip to Minneapolis on Saturday to survey the scene.

AGING BRIDGES