Part of a bridge that spans the Río Rincón in Puerto Jiménez, a fishing community and popular tourist destination in southwest Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula, collapsed on Friday when a 95-ton crane attempted to cross it, the daily La Nacion reported.

According to the national daily, the 50-year-old bridge was only meant to support 35 tons.

The crane sustained severe damage to the cab, but the driver escaped unscathed. No injuries were reported.

Friday's collapse came little more than two weeks after a bridge in Turrubares caved under the weight of a school bus carrying 38 passengers, which plunged into the Tárcoles River and claimed five lives. The Turrubares collapse lead to serious questions about the Public Works and Transport Ministry's competence to maintain bridges and forced the resignation of ministry head Karla González.

In September, The National Emergency Commission (CNE) declared a “red alert” over the state of bridges in Costa Rica after a study revealed that dozens of the country's river crossings were in potentially dangerous conditions.

National Roadway Council (CONAVI) press officials said that a new bridge is under construction, but for now the only access to Puerto Jiménez is by air or boat.