Tragedy struck on Friday in northwest China when part of a railway bridge under construction gave way, killing six workers and leaving ten others injured for.
Witnesses said the arch section of the structure suddenly crumbled, plunging workers and heavy materials into the Yellow River below. Rescue operations were immediately launched, with hundreds of emergency personnel deployed to search for the missing.
One worker at the scene described the moment of collapse as devastating. “We were working when we suddenly heard a loud snap, and before we knew it, the middle of the bridge was gone. Some of our colleagues fell straight into the river,” he recounted, visibly shaken.
Another survivor, who narrowly escaped, said panic broke out instantly. “I was on the edge of the section when it gave way. I just ran. Others didn’t make it,” he explained.
Authorities confirmed that fifteen workers and a project manager were present at the site when the disaster occurred. A preliminary investigation pointed to a steel cable failure as the likely cause.
The bridge, part of the Sichuan-Qinghai Railway, had been hailed as the world’s largest-span double-track continuous steel truss arch bridge and the first of its kind to span the Yellow River. Construction workers had spoken with pride about contributing to such a landmark project before the tragedy.
Rescue teams continued their search late into the night. One official involved in the operation stressed the urgency of the mission. “Every minute counts. We are doing everything possible to find the missing workers,” he said.
The incident has renewed concerns over construction safety in the country. A grieving family member waiting at the site urged authorities to enforce stricter measures. “We don’t want more families to go through this pain. My brother just wanted to do his job and come home,” she said.
As recovery efforts intensify, questions remain about whether this disaster could have been prevented.
