A major railway bridge under construction in China’s Qinghai province collapsed into the Yellow River on Friday, killing at least 12 workers and leaving four others missing, state media reported.
Aerial images from Xinhua News Agency showed a large section torn away from the bridge’s curved aquamarine arch, with a bent section of the deck hanging down into the river below.
Sixteen workers were on the bridge when a steel cable snapped around 3 a.m. during a tensioning operation, Xinhua said. Rescue teams were conducting searches using boats, a helicopter and robots to locate the missing workers.
The bridge is about 1.6 kilometers (one mile) long, and its deck sits roughly 55 meters (about 180 feet) above the river surface, according to China Daily.
This incident comes amid broader global concerns about infrastructure safety. In a separate recent bridge collapse in Pune, India, at least two people died and several others were swept away, with dozens more injured as emergency responders worked to locate those missing. The episode underscored the ongoing importance of rigorous inspections, maintenance, and safety practices on large-scale infrastructure projects.
Experts and officials typically stress the need for stringent safety protocols during construction, regular inspections, and rapid response plans to prevent and mitigate such tragedies. Investigators will review the Qinghai incident to determine the exact cause and to assess what safety measures must be strengthened for future projects.
Rescue operations are continuing as authorities seek to recover the four missing workers and support families affected by the collapse. The disaster highlights the vital importance of robust engineering standards and vigilant safety oversight in infrastructure development, not only in China but around the world.
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