TEHRAN Iran on Wednesday regretted killing of a group of Portuguese people in a bridge collapse, and condoled the Portuguese government, people and the bereaved families of the victims of disaster.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamidreza Assefi also expressed sympathy with those who were affected by the unfortunate incident and hoped for quick recovery of the injured.

A locally hired bus and at least two cars crossing a bridge in northern Portugal went plummeting into the torrent when one of the bridge's supporting pillars gave way late Sunday. Over 80 people were declared missing and feared dead.

The bridge, 200 meters (660 feet) long and three meters (10 feet) wide, was built in 1886. A new bridge had been planned.

Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues was appointed Portuguese infrastructure minister to replace Jorge Coelho who resigned in the wake of the bridge collapse.