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A massive bridge at a hydropower station in southwest China collapsed Tuesday, just months after it opened, sending concrete and steel falling into a river, according to Chinese state media.
An official from Barkam County confirmed the accident to Chinese state-run Global Times, saying no injuries were reported, Reuters reported.
Cracks were found on the bridge’s road surface and slopes a day earlier, prompting authorities to impose temporary traffic control, reports said.
Footage of the collapse shared widely on Chinese social media showed the Hongqi Bridge in Sichuan province tilting before plunging into the river below, sending up a huge cloud of dust.
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Dust and debris climb over the gorge after the Hongqi Bridge gave way in Sichuan province on November 11, 2025, following reports of a crack a day earlier. (Reuters)
According to China Central Television (CCTV) news, the incident occurred near the G317 national highway at around 3 pm local time.
The local transportation and public security bureau said the slope on the right bank of the bridge had shown signs of deformation on Monday afternoon, hours before the collapse.
Officials immediately closed the structure to all traffic and issued a public notice warning of potential safety risks.
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The Hongqi Bridge near a hydropower station in southwest China collapsed into the river below in a dramatic failure captured on camera on November 11, 2025. (Reuters)
According to Times Now, the Hongqi Bridge was located in the mountainous Merkang region of Sichuan province and was completed earlier this year as part of the G317 national highway – a vital route connecting central China with Tibet.
The 758-metre-long, cantilevered two-lane beam bridge stood some 625 meters above the gorge floor, with pillars reaching a height of 172 metres. It was built by the state-backed Sichuan Road and Bridge Group as part of efforts to increase access to the Tibetan Plateau.
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Parts of the Hongqi Bridge fell into the river during a catastrophic collapse in the Merkang region of Sichuan on November 11, 2025, prompting an immediate investigation. (Reuters)
The construction of the bridge was part of a broader government effort to improve connectivity and boost economic development in western China’s rugged terrain, Times Now reported.
It was intended to serve as a symbol of the country’s infrastructure ambitions, but it reopened to traffic just months before the collapse – a short-lived chapter meant to showcase China’s engineering progress.
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State-run outlets have not yet identified the cause of the collapse, although early assessments suggest geological instability may have played a role. Officials said there were no vehicles or pedestrians on the bridge at the time and an investigation was ongoing.
Reuters contributed to this report.
