At least 12 workers have lost their lives, and four others are reported missing after a section of a railway bridge under construction collapsed over the Yellow River in Qinghai Province, northwestern China, according to state media.
The accident occurred around 3 a.m. on Friday during work operations, when a steel cable suddenly snapped, causing part of the bridge’s arch to fall. Foreign media report that a section of the bridge deck now hangs twisted over the river.
At the time of the collapse, 16 workers were on site. So far, rescue teams have recovered several bodies, while searches for the missing continue with the aid of boats, a helicopter, and underwater robots.
The bridge structure, still under construction, stretches 1.6 kilometers in length and rises 55 meters above the river, according to China Daily.
Investigations into the causes of the accident are ongoing.
