Rail bridge collapses during Midwest flooding as a heat wave persists across much of the US

Millions of Americans sweated through a scorching weekend as temperatures soared across the U.S., while residents were rescued from floodwaters that forced evacuations across the Midwest. One person died during flooding in South Dakota, the governor said.

From the mid-Atlantic to Maine, across the Great Lakes region, and throughout the West to California, public officials cautioned residents about the dangers of excessive heat and humidity. Forecasters said the heat wave will continue early in the week in the Southeast, portions of the South and the Plains.

At the borders of South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota, floodwaters rose over several days.

In the Sioux City, Iowa, area, a huge train bridge collapsed into the Big Sioux River late Sunday, an emergency manager said.

The bridge connects North Sioux City, South Dakota, with nearby Sioux City, Iowa, Jason Westcott, an emergency manager in Union County, South Dakota, told KCAU-TV. Some of the trusses collapsed, Westcott said.

Images from local media show a large span of the steel bridge partially underwater as floodwaters rush over it.

In northwest Iowa, 13 rivers flooded, said Eric Tigges of Clay County emergency management. Entire neighborhoods, and at least one whole town, were evacuated, and the Iowa town of Spencer imposed a curfew Sunday for a second night after flooding that surpassed a record set in 1953.

“When the flood gauge is underwater, it’s really hi...