Part of a newly opened bridge collapsed in southwestern China’s Sichuan province on Tuesday (12th), just months after it was completed. The structure was part of an important highway connecting the interior of the country with the Tibetan region. Local authorities said there were no records of any casualties.
The 758-meter-long bridge, known as Hongqi, was closed to traffic on Monday (11th) afternoon due to movement in the area’s mountainous region, as well as cracks appearing on nearby slopes and roads, the Magergang city government reported.
Ground conditions rapidly deteriorated on Tuesday, causing a landslide that led to the partial collapse of the building.
Hongqi Bridge was completed earlier this year, according to a video posted on social media by Sichuan Road Bridge Group, the construction company in charge. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the collapse and assessing the risk of further landslides in nearby areas.