Newly Opened Chinese Bridge Succumbs to Mountain Landslide
A major bridge in China, the Hongqi Bridge, suffered a dramatic partial collapse, sending vast plumes of dust and concrete slabs tumbling into the water below. The incident, which was captured on video and spread rapidly across Chinese social media on Tuesday, has raised serious questions about infrastructure safety in geologically volatile regions.
Timeline of a Collapse: From Cracks to Catastrophe
Authorities had been forced to close the 2,486ft-long Hongqi Bridge a day before its collapse, after concerning cracks were discovered not only on the structure itself but also on the adjacent slopes and roads. This preventative measure, however, could not avert the disaster. By Tuesday afternoon, conditions on the mountainside deteriorated significantly, triggering landslides that ultimately caused a section of the bridge to give way.
Disturbing footage from the scene shows the moment the bridge crumbled, with huge chunks of concrete crashing down the mountainside and into the open river. The visual evidence shows one end of the bridge completely destroyed, with remnants piled on the mountain, while the opposite end appeared to remain intact, standing over the water.
A Miraculous Escape and Growing Scrutiny
In what officials are calling a miracle, there were no reported injuries following the collapse. The bridge, a key link connecting China's heartland to Tibet, had only been completed earlier this year by the contracting firm Sichuan Road and Bridge Group. Its sudden failure has ignited fresh fears regarding the rigour of geological surveys and quality control in China's ambitious infrastructure push.
This region of Sichuan is known for its high seismic activity and was devastated by the 2008 earthquake that killed nearly 70,000 people, a disaster partly blamed on poor construction. The collapse of the Hongqi Bridge echoes another recent incident in August, where a railway bridge under construction in Qinghai province collapsed, killing at least 12 workers.
While local authorities have sought to downplay the event as an isolated natural occurrence, the incident casts a shadow over China's strategy of spurring economic growth in poorer mountainous areas through massive infrastructure projects. The country has heavily invested in such developments, recently unveiling the world's tallest bridge in neighbouring Guizhou province.
Authorities have confirmed that a detour route is now open and a full investigation into the collapse is underway. The Sichuan Road and Bridge Group has stated there is no current timetable for reopening the vital highway.
