Overview
- A section of the 758‑metre Hongqi Bridge in Maerkang, Sichuan, fell into the river on Tuesday after mountainside failures undermined the approach and roadbed.
- Police shut the span on Monday after detecting cracks and terrain shifts, evacuated stranded vehicles, and set up warnings, resulting in no reported injuries.
- Video from the scene shows the hillside giving way and a large portion of the structure collapsing within seconds.
- The bridge is part of National Highway G317 linking central China to Tibet, and traffic has been rerouted as emergency and inspection teams secure the site.
- Built earlier this year by Sichuan Road & Bridge Group, the bridge’s failure is under technical investigation, with online claims about reservoir levels and rainfall remaining unconfirmed.