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A newly constructed 2,487-foot-long bridge partially collapsed this week, NBC News reports.
The Hongqi Bridge, which connects the Sichuan province in China with Tibet, was initially closed after cracks appeared on slopes and roads in the mountainous region nearby on Monday (November 10) before a landslide caused it to fracture and collapse on Tuesday (November 11), officials in the city of Ma'erkang confirmed. No casualties were reported in relation to the incident and the cause is still being investigated.
Verified videos obtained by ABC News that were previously shared on Chinese social media apps showed the collapse taking place, as well as the aftermath in the area. The bridge concluded its construction earlier this year, according to local media reports.
China is reported to have made several pricey infrastructure investments in recent years, which includes roads, railways and bridges. The world's highest bridge was opened in the province of Guizhou in September, having beat out another bridge that previously held the title in the same province. At least 11 people died in a partial highway bridge collapse that took place in the province of Shaanxi in July 2024.
China is among the countries most prone to earthquakes as it's located on the 'Ring of Fire' region where earthquakes commonly occur in the Pacific and Sichuan had previously seen a 7.9-magnitude earthquake kill more than 69,000 people in 2008.