A 15-year-old girl and a truck driver were killed Monday after a suspension bridge over a river in southwest France collapsed, reigniting a debate over infrastructure safety in the wake of last year's deadly disaster in Genoa.

Two vehicles plunged into the fast-flowing Tarn river after the bridge between the towns of Mirepoix-sur-Tarn and Bessieres, 30 kilometres (18 miles) north of Toulouse, gave way.

The bridge collapsed after the suspension cables snapped, crashing into the waters of the Tarn, with only a small portion left exposed above the river.

The girl was travelling in the car with her mother, who was plucked from the water by bystanders, Toulouse public prosecutor Dominique Alzeari said. The truck driver's body was found after a day-long search by more than 60 rescue workers, including divers, according to rescue workers and the mayor of Mirepoix-sur-Tarn, Eric Oget.

"The body, which is in the truck, has not yet been freed," Oget told AFP.

Five people, including two rescue workers and some local people who tried to save the victims, were seriously injured, according to the region's security department.

The bonnet of the sunken car could be seen sticking out of the water as helicopters circled overhead.

Authorities had earlier said that a van might also have fallen into the river and that "several" people might be missing, but Alzeari said "that does not appear to be the case."

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019