A section of a bridge in North Carolina collapsed live on air, while a reporter and camera operator stood just a few feet away.

During a newscast for Fox 46 in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday, reporter Amber Roberts was standing on a bridge showing viewers the impact of flooding in the area, according to theNew York Post.

Ms Roberts knelt down on the two-lane bridge in Alexander County and showed viewers that amid the torrential rain part of the road was slowly sinking.

“This bridge is literally sinking. Take a look at the ground, you can see it caving in,” she said.

As the camera moved away from Ms Roberts and focused on the flood of running water below, the section of the bridge that the reporter had just been standing on collapsed.

Ms Roberts screamed and exclaimed: “We are backing up, we’re backing up,” as the camera turned back to show a large section of the bridge missing.

“Just right here live on TV, we saw the road collapse. That same road that we were just standing on seconds ago.

“Thank god we are backing up. We are slowly going off of the bridge, we are slowly backing up,” Ms Roberts said, as the camera operator moved off the road.

Neither Ms Roberts or the camera operator were injured during the incident, the reporter later wrote on Twitter.

She said: “I am SO #thankful me and my @FOX46News #photojournalist, @JonMonteFOX46 are okay. I’m sending #prayers up to the people of #Alexander #County impacted by today’s #flooding.”

North Carolina has been hit with heavy rainfall and flash floods over the last few days, as at least three people have died during the torrential rain this week.

The weather is expected to improve on Friday, as the heavy rain moves out of the region. (The Independent)