A dramatic video shows the moment the recently opened Hongqi Bridge in southwest China’s Sichuan province collapsed, with a large section of the structure plunging into the river below.
According to local authorities, the bridge, part of a national highway linking China’s heartland with Tibet, gave way on Tuesday afternoon after a series of landslides struck the area. However, no casualties have been reported.
The incident occurred near the Shuangjiangkou Hydropower Station in Maerkang city. Videos circulating on social media capture the hillside beginning to crumble, sending clouds of dust and debris skyward. Within seconds, the ground beneath the bridge gives way, causing its pillars to tilt and the span to collapse dramatically into the river.
Authorities had closed the 758-meter-long bridge to all traffic on Monday afternoon, after discovering cracks on nearby slopes and roads, along with signs of shifting terrain that signalled potential danger, Reuters reported.
Preliminary assessments suggest the collapse was triggered by geological instability and landslides on the steep mountain slopes. Emergency and rescue teams have been dispatched to the site to evaluate damage and ensure safety.
The Hongqi Bridge, built by the Sichuan Road & Bridge Group, had only been completed earlier this year and opened to traffic recently.
Source: India Today