In
a tragic incident early Thursday morning, a container ship collided with a section of a bridge in Guangzhou city, China, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and leaving three others missing. The collision caused a partial collapse of the Lixinsha Bridge in the Nansha district of Guangzhou, located approximately 90 kilometers northwest of Hong Kong.
The empty container ship struck a pier of the bridge, leading to the collapse of part of the beam, reported official media. Among the casualties were five vehicles, including a bus and a motorbike, which fell off the bridge as a result of the impact. Two of the vehicles plunged into the river below, while the others landed on the vessel.
The captain of the cargo ship has been detained following the incident, as per Beijing News. Rescue efforts are underway, with teams dispatched to the scene to search for the missing individuals. However, details regarding the exact number of casualties remain uncertain.
The Lixinsha Bridge, situated on the Hongqili Waterway, serves as a crucial transportation route for residents of Sanmin Island. In light of the accident, the bridge has been closed to traffic, leaving authorities to assess the extent of the damage and investigate the cause of the collision.
Footage captured by state broadcaster CCTV depicted the aftermath of the collision, showing a partially collapsed bridge with the container ship wedged beneath its structure. Zhong Weihong, the village Party secretary of Minjian village on the island, informed reporters that alternative transportation options, such as ferries, are available for residents.
As investigations into the incident continue, concerns arise over the safety of transportation infrastructure in the region and the need for preventive measures to avoid similar tragedies in the future.
