Part of a bridge within the southern Chinese manufacturing hub of Guangzhou collapsed after a container ship crashed into it, killing at the least two individuals as automobiles plummeted, the native authorities stated on Thursday.
Three individuals had been lacking, in line with the authorities, who stated an empty container ship had hit one of many supporting columns of the two-lane Lixinsha Bridge, fracturing the floor.
The crash occurred at about 5:30 a.m. Thursday within the Nansha district, and its trigger was underneath investigation, the district stated in a press release. Photos printed by Chinese state media confirmed a big chunk lacking from the bridge, which is the primary thoroughfare crossing the Hongqili Channel between the island of Sanmin and the remainder of the sprawling megacity. An area official instructed state media that ferries had been being supplied for residents.
Five automobiles fell when the bridge collapsed, two into the water and three onto the container ship, Guangzhou’s maritime bureau stated in a press release.
Among the automobiles was a bus whose driver was the one individual on board, the bus’s operator, Guangzhou Bus Group, stated in a press release printed by state media. It was unclear whether or not the driving force was among the many lacking or the lifeless. {A photograph} printed in state media confirmed a bus that appeared to have landed on the ship.
Six scuba divers and a salvage ship had been despatched to the scene, officers stated, in line with state media.
In 2021, the transport division in Guangdong Province, whose capital is Guangzhou, agreed to implement anti-collision measures on the bridge’s assist columns, in line with the state broadcaster China Central Television. The work was scheduled to be accomplished in 2022 however was postponed to 2023, after which to August 2024, with no causes given for the delay, the broadcaster reported.
