Hongqi Bridge in Sichuan Collapses, No Casualties

A section of the Hongqi Bridge in southwestern China's Sichuan province collapsed on Tuesday afternoon, sending debris into the gorge below, though no casualties were reported due to its prior closure. The incident occurred along National Highway G317 in Maerkang city, a vital route connecting central China to the Tibet region.

Local authorities closed the 758-meter-long structure to all traffic on Monday afternoon after detecting cracks in nearby slopes and roads, along with shifts in the surrounding mountain terrain. Officials noted that conditions deteriorated rapidly the following day, triggering a landslide that damaged the bridge's approach section and roadbed. Videos circulating on social media captured the moment the hillside gave way, with plumes of dust rising as parts of the bridge plunged toward the Dadu River far below.

The bridge, a cantilevered two-lane beam design standing about 625 meters above the gorge floor with piers reaching 172 meters in height, had only recently opened to traffic. Completed earlier this year by the state-backed Sichuan Road Bridge Group, it formed part of upgrades to the G317 corridor near the Shuangjiangkou Hydropower Station. The...