A major infrastructure failure occurred in China’s Sichuan province when the recently constructed Hongqi Bridge collapsed into a river after a significant landslide. Live footage vividly documented the catastrophic event as the mountainside gave way, dragging a portion of the bridge down with it. Authorities have confirmed that no casualties resulted from the incident, and an investigation is actively in progress to determine the exact cause.
The Hongqi Bridge, an essential part of a national highway connecting central China to Tibet, was compromised on Tuesday afternoon. Videos circulating online show the bridge’s concrete piers tilting and breaking, resulting in a large section’s descent into the river. The impact kicked up a colossal cloud of dust and debris as the landslide engulfed the structure. Preliminary analyses strongly indicate that geological instability in the steep, landslide-prone area is the most probable cause. Despite the bridge being closed a day prior due to observed cracks and mountain movement, the terrain’s deterioration led to the collapse of the 758-meter structure and its adjacent approach road. A technical examination is underway to assess all contributing factors.