ALL FURTHER UPDATES WILL BE LISTED IN A NEW THREAD ON THE FRONT PAGE
****
UPDATE: Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak confirms 6 deaths, and is warning people to prepare for a long, tragic night. Governor Tim Pawlenty says mostly cosmetic work was being done, with some rehabilitation. The local Red Cross website was taking donations, but seems to have gone down due to traffic.

*******

UPDATE: Reader Matt Reeves says at least 6 are confirmed dead. MSNBC confirms. Also, a little info on the bridge, c/o Matt:

to the best of my recollection there is no train that runs directly under the bridge. There is a tressel bridge just down the river about a half mile. And also a walking bridge that is on campus that the students use. I have not seen any trains crushed in the footage i’ve seen. I could be wrong but I am from MN and have spent a lot of time in downtown Minneapolis.

If you find any addition information, please contact me, or leave it in the comment section.

Minor update: Hot Air readers report seeing a train in the wreckage, with parts crushed. However, all believe it was still on the tracks.

******

UPDATE: Here’s the thing: There was speculation that the bridge may have had too much weight on it, because of the bumper-to-bumper traffic. However, at least one lane was shut down, due to construction, so I’m thinking the weight should’ve equaled out. That National Guard is on the scene, and hundreds of local rushed to the area to assist with rescues.

Charles Johnson has a Google Earth image, along with an approximation of how much collapsed.

*********

UPDATE: The Associated Press also reports an estimated 50 vehicles plunged into the river. The AP also quotes witnesses saying “hundreds of people would have been involved”. Traffic on the bridge was “bumper to bumper”. An engineer tells WCCO that construction work was being done on the concrete, but it doesn’t seem to have been enough to cause collapse. It could’ve been related to a steel failure. 3 Salvation Army vehicles are on the scene providing food for locals. The Red Cross repeats its call for blood donations.

Another witness tells Fox that he, personally, saw at least 3 or 4 vehicles either submerged or crushed under the bridge.

******

UPDATE: CNN is reporting, according to my sources, that between 50-100 vehicles plunged into the water. The American Red Cross and local hospitals are requesting blood donations immediately. One Hot Air commenter reports that cops and rescue teams from as far as 30 miles a way have been called in, while some reports say the rescue operation has been called off (I can’t confirm).

One Twin-City area blogger says “This was not a bomb”.

Fox reports at least 3 people confirmed dead, and the fatality rate is expected to rise. One witness says he helped pull “bodies” out of the water. Stand by.

******

UPDATE: A doctor just held a news conference, and confirms one death, with other in critical condition. He reports the death was do to drowning.

******

UPDATE: Fox News reports that at least 3 people have been confirmed dead. One eyewitness reports at least 7 dead.

******

UPDATE: For some reason, Times Online reports at least 2 dead.

******

UPDATE: Local area hospitals say people are arriving in critical condition.

******

UPDATE: Some witnesses report hearing jackhammers shortly before the collapse. The DHS says it does not appear to be related to terrorism, but seems to have been a construction or structural collapse-related incident.

******

UPDATE: One Fox News correspondent says he was there for the ‘89 bridge collapse in San Fran, and believes this is actually worse. Allah has rolling updates, as well.

*******

UPDATE: Witnesses say at least 20 vehicles are involved. Fox News believes that is a low estimate. Some vehicles are on fire, others are reported crushed under other vehicles or the bridge itself, while others simply plunged into the river. Fire officials in the area warn that another section of the bridge is in danger of collapse.

******

UPDATE: A local Fox affiliate reports civilian boats are arriving at the scene to help out. Fox News reports that dozens of people have been plunged into the water, and at least 20 people are injured.

******

MSNBC reports:

It was not clear how many people might be hurt or killed. NBC News reported that every Minneapolis ambulance has been requested to the scene.

Img. c/o LGF.

UPDATE: WCCO reports that both sides have collapsed:

The Interstate 35W Mississippi River bridge near University Avenue has collapsed into the river.

Both the northbound and southbound lanes of 35W are lying in the Mississippi River.

There are multiple cars in the river and a couple cars on fire. According to one witness, there was a school bus full of children on the bridge.

Cars are still on the bridge.

Tons of concrete have collapsed and people are injured. Survivors are being carried up the riverbank.

…

Some cars are still precariously perched on the bridge. Sections of the bridge are mangled, some are pointing up in the air and some are in the river.

“It is just horrific,” said witness Marilyn Franzen, who saw the bridge collapse. Franzen said she saw a school bus that managed to stop before the going over the edge of the bridge that she said was carrying 20-30 children.

According to witnesses, cars are crushed and mangled under the bridge where it collapsed onto the shore of the river. Street signs also crushed cars.

Very bad, folks. Prayers are needed.

******

UPDATE: A school bus was on the bridge at the time, but fortunately reports say it didn’t plunge into the water, and the children are safe.

******

Across on CNN & Fox. CNN reports at least 30 vehicles were on the bridge at the time, sending many hurtling into the water. Rescuers and by-standers have been jumping in the water, in attempts to rescue people from the water. Stand by for updates.