A newly constructed bridge in southwest China has partially collapsed just months after its completion, sparking public concern over construction safety standards in the country.
The 829-yard-long Hongqi Bridge, located in Yunnan Province, gave way on Tuesday following a series of landslides from a nearby mountain. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, as authorities had already closed the bridge after detecting cracks in the structure.
Dramatic videos circulating on social media show rocks and debris tumbling down the mountain slope, striking the edge of the bridge before a section of it gave way. Local officials confirmed that worsening geological conditions in the area triggered multiple landslides, which caused the approach bridge and roadbed to collapse.
According to reports by Newsweek, authorities had identified the structural cracks and issued an early closure order to prevent accidents, a decision that likely prevented loss of life.
The Hongqi Bridge had only been in operation for a few months before the incident, raising questions about construction quality and oversight. Investigations are underway to determine whether poor engineering practices or natural factors were primarily responsible for the failure.
