Newly built 758-metre Hongqi Bridge in China's Sichuan collapses into river

A major bridge in southwest China’s Sichuan Province collapsed on Tuesday, just months after it opened to traffic. The 758-metre-long Hongqi Bridge, part of the G317 national highway in Maerkang, plunged into a river around 3 p.m. local time, according to state media reports. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.

Authorities said early warnings were issued after cracks were detected on the bridge’s surface and right-bank slope a day before the incident. Temporary traffic restrictions had been imposed, and the bridge was closed to vehicles shortly before it gave way. Videos circulating on Chinese social media showed the structure bending and then collapsing into the river, sending a cloud of dust over the gorge.

The cantilevered two-lane beam bridge, completed earlier this year by the state-backed Sichuan Road & Bridge Group, stood 625 metres above the valley floor, with piers as tall as 172 metres. It was part of a government initiative to enhance connectivity to the Tibetan Plateau and promote development in western China.

Officials have not yet determined the exact cause of the collapse. Preliminary assessments suggest that geological instability may have played a role. Local authorities have launched a detailed investigation, and safety checks on nearby infrastructure have been intensified to prevent further incidents.