A section of a newly opened bridge in China’s southwestern Sichuan province collapsed on Tuesday (11 November) along a major national highway connecting the country’s heartland to Tibet, local authorities confirmed. No casualties have been reported.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show a portion of the bridge collapsing. Reuters verified the location of the footage based on the river, terrain, and mountain shapes, which matched existing satellite and file imagery. However, the date of filming could not be confirmed. Local officials later verified that the collapse occurred on Tuesday.
According to the local government, police in Maerkang city had closed the 758-metre-long Hongqi Bridge to all traffic on Monday afternoon (10 November) after cracks were detected on nearby slopes and roads, accompanied by visible shifts in the surrounding mountain terrain.
“On Tuesday afternoon, conditions on the mountainside worsened, triggering landslides that led to the collapse of the approach bridge and roadbed,” the statement added.
The Hongqi Bridge, part of a crucial national route, was completed earlier this year. The contractor, Sichuan Road & Bridge Group, had previously shared videos on social media celebrating the completion of the project.
Authorities have since launched an investigation into the incident, as the collapse raises renewed concerns over infrastructure safety in mountainous regions vulnerable to landslides and seismic activity.
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