China's Hongqi Bridge Linking Sichuan, Tibet Collapses Days After Opening | Watch

Last Updated:November 12, 2025, 08:42 IST

The Hongqi Bridge, part of a major national highway linking China’s heartland with Tibet, gave way on Tuesday afternoon following a series of landslides in the area.

Hongqi Bridge in Sichuan Crumbles into River

A dramatic video from southwest China’s Sichuan province shows the moment the newly opened Hongqi Bridge collapsed, sending a large section of the structure plunging into the river below. The bridge, part of a major national highway linking China’s heartland with Tibet, gave way on Tuesday afternoon following a series of landslides in the area. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far.

The incident took place near the Shuangjiangkou Hydropower Station in Maerkang city. Videos circulating widely on Chinese social media captured the hillside beginning to crumble, releasing thick clouds of dust and debris. Within moments, the ground beneath the bridge shifted, causing its support pillars to tilt before the span collapsed into the river in a dramatic cascade of concrete and steel.

Authorities had reportedly closed the 758-metre-long bridge to traffic a day earlier after detecting cracks in nearby slopes and roads, along with signs of ground movement. Officials cited potential geological hazards and had halted all movement across the bridge as a safety precaution. These early warnings are believed to have prevented any loss of life.

NEW: 758-meter-long Hongqi bridge in the southwestern province of Sichuan, China collapses just months after opening. Construction on the Chinese bridge had finished earlier this year, according to Reuters. The collapse of the bridge was reportedly triggered by… pic.twitter.com/fyxMAW9JNN— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 11, 2025

According to local authorities, initial assessments indicate that the collapse was caused by geological instability and a series of landslides on the steep mountain slopes surrounding the bridge. Emergency and rescue teams have been deployed to the site to assess the extent of damage, stabilise the terrain, and ensure safety in the region.

The Hongqi Bridge was built by the Sichuan Road & Bridge Group and had been completed earlier this year. It was considered an important link in China’s infrastructure network connecting Sichuan province with Tibet.

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