Heart-stopping moment China's 2,500ft bridge crashes into river weeks after opening
A Tragic Collapse of the Hongqi Bridge in Southwest China
A shocking incident has taken place in Southwest China, where a newly constructed bridge collapsed dramatically, sending large concrete blocks tumbling into a river below. The Hongqi Bridge, which is 2,487 feet long, is located in Sichuan province and was closed on Monday by police in Maerkang city after cracks were discovered on nearby slopes and roads.
The conditions of the mountainside connected to the bridge deteriorated, leading to landslides that compromised the structure's integrity. The bridge, which was completed earlier this year, serves as a vital link between the heartland of China and Tibet via a national highway.
Despite the alarming event, no casualties have been reported. Video footage of the collapse captures the serene mountain landscape and glistening river being disrupted by clouds of dust from the wreckage. The video also shows massive concrete slabs falling onto each other down the mountain and into the water. The thick dust clouds obscured the area where the bridge once stood just moments before.
More than half of the white stone bridge remained standing after the incident. As the dust settled, the extent of the damage became apparent with piles of rubble visible on the mountainsides. Authorities in Sichuan are still investigating the cause of the collapse.
Bridge collapses in China have been a recurring issue in recent months and years. On August 12, workers were killed when a section of the Sichuan-Qinghai railway collapsed. Additionally, during a flood in 2024, 11 people lost their lives due to the partial collapse of a highway bridge in Shaanxi province.
However, despite these incidents, China has made remarkable progress in its infrastructure development. This year, the country added the world's tallest bridge, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, which opened in June. Spanning nearly two miles, this engineering marvel significantly reduces travel time across the gorge, cutting it from over an hour to just a few minutes.
Located 2,050 feet above river level, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge stands almost 656 feet higher than the Empire State Building. It soars above the Beipan River, offering motorists a thrilling experience as they cross the 22,000-ton bridge. Construction on this ambitious project began in 2022 with the aim of creating a motorway connecting the Liuzhi and Anlong areas in Guizhou Province.
After three years of work and at a cost of $283.4 million, officials hope the completed bridge will boost tourism and the local economy. In addition to being the world's tallest, it is also the largest span bridge built in a mountainous area, spanning 4,650 feet.
Given that 92.5% of the region is covered by mountains and hills, the area has built nearly 30,000 bridges since the late 1970s. Today, it is home to nearly half of the world's 100 tallest bridges.
