758m Bridge Collapses Months After Opening
A newly constructed bridge in southwest China has collapsed just months after opening, sending huge slabs of concrete tumbling down a mountainside and into a river below. The incident occurred on Tuesday in Sichuan Province, a region known for its rugged terrain and seismic activity.
According to Chinese state media, no casualties were reported following the partial collapse of the 758-meter-long Hongqi Bridge, which was part of a national highway connecting Sichuan to Tibet. The bridge had been closed to traffic a day earlier, after local authorities discovered cracks on nearby roads.
Officials confirmed that a landslide triggered the collapse, destroying a large section of the structure and sending plumes of dust and debris into the air.
Videos of the dramatic collapse quickly went viral on Chinese social media platforms, showing concrete slabs breaking away and falling into the valley below.
The Hongqi Bridge, built by Sichuan Road and Bridge Group, was completed earlier this year as part of China’s ambitious infrastructure drive to link remote mountain communities. The area lies near the epicenter of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, which killed nearly 70,000 people.
In recent years, China has accelerated construction in its most mountainous provinces, building record-breaking structures to improve transportation. Just two months ago, the country unveiled the world’s tallest bridge in neighboring Guizhou Province.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the Hongqi Bridge collapse, focusing on geological conditions and safety standards in high-risk mountain regions.
photo: social media
