Hydropower station bridge collapses in southwestern China

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) – A bridge at the Shuangjiangkou Hydropower Station in southwestern China collapsed on Tuesday.

An official from Barkam County in Sichuan province told Global Times that the Hongqi Bridge at the local Shuangjiangkou Hydropower Station collapsed on Tuesday afternoon, with no casualties reported as of today.

Videos circulating online showed the bridge structure tumbling down into the river below, sending a massive cloud of dust into the air.

The official, who declined to be named, mentioned that during a patrol on Monday, relevant personnel detected cracks on the road surface at the bridge head and the slope, and imposed traffic controls.

The relevant departments were sent to the scene for further investigation, the official said, noting that there were no casualties reported so far.

A statement published on the local government's official WeChat account on Tuesday morning announced that a section of Hongqi Bridge has been under temporary traffic restrictions since Monday due to safety concerns.

China Central Television (CCTV) also reported on Tuesday evening, citing information from the local transportation and public security bureaus, that on Monday, signs of deformation were detected on the mountain slope on the right bank of Hongqi Bridge.

The CCTV report added that by Tuesday afternoon, as the deformation and slope instability worsened, the roadbed and approach bridge in that area collapsed.