WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush said Thursday the federal government must "respond robustly" to the deadly Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis.
Later in the day, the White House announced that Bush will travel to Minneapolis on Saturday to visit the disaster scene.
The bridge spanning the Mississippi River collapsed Wednesday during the evening rush hour, plunging people, vehicles, concrete and steel to the river and banks below. At least four people were confirmed dead, scores were treated at nearby hospitals and as many as 30 people were reported missing, emergency officials said.
Bush, in comments at the White House, said the disaster was discussed during Thursday a Cabinet meeting.
"We talked about the fact that the bridge collapsed and that we in the federal government must respond and respond robustly to help the people there not only recover, but to make sure that lifeline of activity, that bridge, gets rebuilt as quickly as possible," he said.
Bush said he spoke with Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, telling them, "we would help with rescue efforts."
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and Federal Highway Administrator J. Richard Capka were in Minneapolis for a briefing and a tour of the site.
National Transportation Safety Board inspectors began their investigation into cause of the 40-year-old span's collapse.
