Frightening collapse of the 758 meter long Hongqi Bridge just inaugurated in China: the video of the landslide goes around the world

Cina crolla ponte

It was proudly inaugurated just a few months ago and was supposed to be the symbol of progress, but the Hongqi Bridge in the Chinese province of Sichuan quickly became a symbol of something completely different: fragility and disaster. The structure, 758 meters long and part of the national highway 317 that connects China to Tibet, collapsed under the weight of a landslide that took an entire arch with it.

The failure, captured in an impressive video, shows the bridge crumbling in a few moments, raising a cloud of dust and debris. The images, spread on Chinese social media, quickly went around the world, raising questions about the safety of newly built infrastructure in the country.

A disaster avoided thanks to the timing of the authorities

Fortunately, no one was on the bridge at the time of the collapse. The local authorities, after having detected cracks and landslides in the previous days, had decided to close traffic from the previous Monday. A decision that proved providential: without that intervention, the outcome could have been tragic.

The Maerkang police and provincial technicians had in fact cordoned off the area, evacuating vehicles and monitoring the mountain side which was showing signs of instability. On Tuesday afternoon, the ground gave way completely, causing the central span to collapse.

The Hongqi Bridge was built by the Sichuan Road & Bridge Group and presented as a strategic project to promote connections with the mountainous areas of Tibet. Videos and photos of its inauguration were shared in celebratory tones, testifying to China’s engineering progress.

Now, however, those same images have been replaced by the video of the collapse, which has gone viral as a warning about the consequences of the race for record infrastructure. No casualties, thankfully, but a blow to public trust: a reminder that not even the newest bridges are immune to the forces of nature.

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Chris Rivers

Chris Rivers

With over 15 years of experience in journalism and a deep-seated passion for environmental sustainability, I lead the editorial team at Green Technology Investments. My background in environmental science fuels my commitment to crafting insightful and impactful content. When I'm not penning articles, you can find me exploring national parks or tending to my organic garden.