By Daily Caller Staff
A newly completed 758-meter bridge in China’s Sichuan province partially collapsed into a river Tuesday after landslides hit the mountainside above the Hongqi Bridge, with local authorities reporting no casualties.
Police in Maerkang shut the bridge on National Highway 317 on Monday after cracks appeared on nearby slopes and roadways, then conditions worsened Tuesday and the approach span and roadbed gave way, according to Reuters. Dramatic videos circulating on Chinese platforms show the deck breaking and plunging into the river. (RELATED: ‘The Whole Bridge Just Fell Down!’: Shocking Dispatch Audio Released After Baltimore Bridge Collapse)
The bridge, along a key route linking China’s interior to Tibet, was finished earlier this year, according to the contractor’s prior promotional material cited by Reuters. State and local outlets said a traffic control order was issued Monday after inspectors flagged the cracks, and reiterated Tuesday night that the collapse caused no injuries.
Officials and state media attributed the failure to landslides triggered by worsening mountainside deformation, noting detours are in place while specialists assess the site. Jiemian reported authorities could not yet estimate when the route will reopen.
China has faced heightened scrutiny of bridge safety after a series of high-profile failures since 2024, prompting periodic inspections and disciplinary actions following deadly collapses elsewhere.
