SIMPSON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – Simpson County emergency officials took quick action after the Strong River bridge on State Route 149 collapsed on Wednesday, October 16.

Emergency officials said several construction workers were trapped on a platform under the bridge, while the bodies of other had to be recovered from the water.

“The sheriff’s office was first on the scene. We get there, and there’s multiple victims. And at that point, the sheriff’s office, along with the ambulance service and volunteer fire departments, take the survivors and get them up to medical care. And then, we became a recovery effort after that. We were able to get the survivors out really quick,” said John Kilpatrick, director of Simpson County Emergency Management.

D’Lo Mayor John Berry, who is also a local firefighter, also aided in the rescue and recovery efforts with his team. Responders took about half an hour, while the recovery lasted several hours.

“In the light of things, you know, as bad as the tragedy really is, told someone earlier that I compared it to kind of like a bomb went off. You don’t expect that in a small town,” Berry said.

Officials with the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office said they’re still processing the mental toll of such a tragedy in their community. They commended the public for coming together to help during a time of need.

“I’ve been doing this for 36 years, and it never gets any easier. I mean, any time you see someone that’s someone’s daughter, son, father, brother, I mean, it touches you when you see the community come together. The workers are out there, their co-workers are out there helping us to retrieve them and to get them out from under the rubble, you know. Everybody working together makes you feel proud,” said Simpson County Sheriff Paul Mullins.

Several other agencies from across the state also responded to the scene to help. The cause of the collapse is still under investigation.