A central section of a major road bridge collapsed in northeast China early on Thursday, sending vehicles plunging into a river below, local officials and state media reported.
A 20m span of the Tianzhuangtai Bridge, a two-lane bridge built in 1976 on the 305 national road in Panjin city, suddenly caved in at 7.02am local time, the Xinhua news agency said.
It said at least three vehicles were seen falling through the gaping hole in the 500m-long cement and concrete bridge over the Liao River, connecting Panjin and Yingkou city, in Liaoning province.
Two people from one of the vehicles, which was carrying four people, managed to free themselves and swam ashore, the agency said.
Pictures showed a small truck hanging precariously over the edge of the bridge, which by that time had been cleared of other vehicles.
”Rescue workers are out on boats searching for the people who fell into the river,” said the director of public security at Tianzhuangtai, who was at the scene.
”I don’t know how many cars have fallen into the river but automobiles definitely fell in,” said the director, Lu Wenlai.
With the river 10m deep and near an estuary, rescue work was hampered by a rising tide, although Xinhua said a first group of three divers had started looking for the vehicles swallowed by the river.
It was not known how many people were killed.
While investigations were ongoing, Lu suggested heavy truck traffic may have led to the collapse.
Residents cited by Xinhua said the bridge had been closed once before, but it was not clear why. — Sapa-AFP