The Hongqi Bridge, part of a major national highway linking China’s heartland with Tibet, gave way on Tuesday afternoon following a series of landslides in the area.
A dramatic video from southwest China’s Sichuan province shows the moment the newly opened Hongqi Bridge collapsed, sending a large section of the structure plunging into the river below. The bridge, part of a major national highway linking China’s heartland with Tibet, gave way on Tuesday afternoon following a series of landslides in the area. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far.
The incident took place near the Shuangjiangkou Hydropower Station in Maerkang city. Videos circulating widely on Chinese social media captured the hillside beginning to crumble, releasing thick clouds of dust and debris. Within moments, the ground beneath the bridge shifted, causing its support pillars to tilt before the span collapsed into the river in a dramatic cascade of concrete and steel.
Authorities had reportedly closed the 758-metre-long bridge to traffic a day earlier after detecting cracks in nearby slopes and roads, along with signs of ground movement. Officials cited potential geological hazards and had halted all movement across the bridge as a safety precaution. These early warnings are believed to have prevented any loss of life.
According to local authorities, initial assessments indicate that the collapse was caused by geological instability and a series of landslides on the steep mountain slopes surrounding the bridge. Emergency and rescue teams have been deployed to the site to assess the extent of damage, stabilise the terrain, and ensure safety in the region.
