A newly opened Hongqi Bridge in China’s Sichuan province experienced a dramatic collapse into a river on Tuesday, triggered by a significant landslide. Viral videos captured the shocking moment a section of the mountainside gave way, sending parts of the 758-meter bridge crashing down. This critical transport link on a national highway to Tibet was severely damaged. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, as the bridge had been closed hours prior due to detected instability.
Engineers identified warning signs of ground movement and cracks on Monday, leading local authorities to halt traffic on the Hongqi Bridge. The situation escalated on Tuesday as deteriorating geological conditions caused a substantial landslide. The force of the slide undermined the bridge’s supports and roadbed, leading to its complete failure.
The primary cause is believed to be the inherent geological instability of the steep mountainous area, which has a history of such events. The swift collapse of the Hongqi Bridge, which was only completed this year by the Sichuan Road & Bridge Group, has ignited discussions about infrastructure integrity in challenging terrains. An official investigation is in progress to ascertain whether geological issues alone, or a combination of factors including structural flaws, were responsible for the disaster. This incident follows a deadly railway bridge collapse in August, highlighting ongoing infrastructure vulnerabilities.