Featured Image Credit: BBC
A 2,500ft bridge collapsed in China this week, just a few months after opening.
Horrifying footage shows the moment the Hongqi Bridge in the southwestern Sichuan province collapsed on Tuesday (November 11)
The hillside can be seen giving way in the video, sending a billowing cloud of dust into the air as onlookers watch.
The footage can be viewed below:
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As the landslide grows in force, the foundations supporting the bridge are swallowed, causing the structure to partially disintegrate.
The bridge had served as a link between China’s heartland and Tibet. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities have been reported, per Reuters reports.
Cracks had been spotted in nearby slopes and roads, leading police to close the bridge to traffic on Monday afternoon as a result of safety concerns. authorities in Sichuan are still investigating the cause.
A statement issued by local authorities did not estimate a timeline for the reopening of the 758-meter-long highway.
Footage of the bridge collapsing was widely shared on Chinese social media. The incident took place around 3 p.m. local time near the G317 national highway, according to China Central Television (CCTV) News.
Officials from local transportation and public security bureaus reported that the bridge’s right-bank slope showed signs of deformation Monday afternoon, only hours before the collapse.
Authorities promptly closed the bridge to all traffic and issued a public warning about the potential safety hazards.
Construction of the bridge was completed earlier this year, according to a video shared on social media by the contractor, Sichuan Road & Bridge Group.
In other news, back in September China opened the Huajiang Canyon Bridge, the world's tallest bridge, located in China's Guizhou province.
It stands 625 meters (2,051 feet) above the Beipan River, which cuts travel time across the canyon from two hours to just two minutes. The huge structure is also designed to serve as a tourist attraction, featuring viewing platforms, a glass walkway,
Construction for the bridge began in January 2022, and after a budget of roughly CN¥2.1 billion ($294,962,461) was used to build it, the bridge was finally opened up to the public on September 28, 2025.
China is home to several record-breaking structures. These include some of the world's tallest buildings and bridges, as well as the longest man-made structure in history, The Great Wall of China, which stretches over 21,000 kilometers
