China Bridge Collapse Kills 12; Massive Search Underway for Missing Workers
At least 12 workers have died and four remain missing after a railway bridge under construction collapsed early Friday morning in China’s Qinghai province.
The tragedy occurred at around 3:00 a.m. during a tensioning operation when a steel cable snapped, causing a large section of the structure to give way. According to state media, 16 workers were on the bridge at the time of the incident.
The bridge is part of the Qinghai section of the Sichuan-Qinghai Railway, a major infrastructure project in western China.
Aerial images show a massive gap in the bridge’s turquoise arch structure, with part of the deck—normally suspended 55 meters above the Yellow River—now twisted and hanging downward.
A large-scale search and rescue operation has been launched to locate the four missing workers. According to China Daily, the effort includes:
- 27 boats
- 1 helicopter
- 5 search robots
- Over 800 emergency personnel
- 91 vehicles
The cause of the collapse is still under investigation.
This latest incident adds to growing safety concerns surrounding China’s rapid infrastructure expansion. Authorities have vowed a full probe and pledged support for the families of the victims.
