GUIZHOU, China – A section of a highway bridge collapsed in Southwest China’s Guizhou Province on Tuesday morning following a landslide triggered by continuous heavy rainfall. Authorities reported no casualties at the scene.
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The incident occurred around 7:40 a.m. on the approach bridge of the Houzihe Grand Bridge, part of the G76 Xiarong expressway within Sandu County. The collapse was a direct result of a landslide activated by the prolonged heavy rain in the area.
Early Detection and Traffic Control
Transportation authorities conducting a patrol inspection detected deformation in the bridge structure early Tuesday morning at 5:51 a.m. This early detection allowed them to quickly implement traffic control measures.
Initially, uphill lanes were closed. By 7:11 a.m., less than 30 minutes before the collapse, two-way traffic control was fully enforced on the section.
The Collapse and Immediate Response
At the time of the collapse, one truck was reported to be on the bridge section. The individual aboard the truck was successfully rescued immediately following the incident. Preliminary verifications confirmed that no one sustained injuries.
Below the collapsed section, three vehicles belonging to a nearby village construction site were identified. Drone surveillance was used to confirm that these vehicles were empty and no people were inside them.
Collapsed section of the Houzihe Grand Bridge approach bridge in Guizhou, China
Emergency response teams were quickly dispatched to the scene. Personnel from public security, transportation, and other relevant departments arrived to manage the situation, conduct rescue operations, and begin formulating detour plans for affected traffic.
Context: Region Faces Severe Flooding
The heavy rainfall that triggered the landslide and subsequent bridge collapse is part of a broader weather pattern severely impacting the region.
Also on Tuesday morning, the Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters in neighboring Rongjiang County, Guizhou, issued an emergency evacuation notice. The county is facing an “extremely severe flood control situation” due to the continuous heavy rainfall and significant upstream water inflow.
According to local reports, water levels in the Pingyong River, Zhaihao River, and Duliu River within Rongjiang County are rising rapidly. Forecasts indicated that all three rivers had exceeded levels typically seen only once every 30 years, putting immense pressure on local flood control efforts.
Investigation Underway
An official investigation into the precise cause of the bridge collapse is currently underway. Authorities are also working on follow-up actions related to the incident, including assessing the full extent of the damage and coordinating repair or replacement efforts.
The incident highlights the challenges infrastructure faces during periods of extreme weather events like the heavy rainfall currently affecting parts of Southern China. Readers can find more information on regional weather impacts and infrastructure resilience in related reports.
