the buzz log

After the horrific bridge collapse in Minneapolis yesterday, people turned to the Web in overwhelming numbers. The dramatic rise in searches like "bridge collapse" (+2,141%), "mississippi river" (+1,842%) and "minneapolis" (+1,458%) revealed an urgent need to find out what had happened and where.

As details emerged, the "collapse" searches proliferated ("bridge collapse in minneapolis," "minnesota bridge collapse," "missississpi bridge collapse") and general locator queries like "mississippi river map" and "minnesota map" swept upwards. Later, the searches sharpened to terms like "35 w bridge," "35 w bridge collapse," and "interstate 35."

Regional news outlets absorbed a wave of online attention. Among the most sought-out, KARE 11, WCCO, KSTP, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune leapt in buzz. Demand for "minneapolis newspaper" and "mississippi newspapers" also rose.

Beyond news updates, many searchers went looking for live footage of the span's fatal giving-way. Queries for "bridge collapse video" and "minneapolis bridge collapse video" skyrocketed.

Now, as rescue attempts continue and investigators delve into the causes of the bridge's catastrophic failure, we will surely learn new details—and see many more searches. Stay tuned.