Newly constructed Hongqi Bridge in China partially collapses

In China, a newly opened bridge partially collapsing in south-west Sichuan province along a national highway. The 758-metre Hongqi bridge was closed on Monday afternoon after cracks appeared on nearby slopes and roads, and shifts were seen in the terrain of the mountain, the local government said. On Tuesday afternoon, conditions on the mountainside worsened, triggering landslides, leading to the collapse of the approach bridge and roadbed, it added.No casualties have been reported. The footage shows a plume of dust filling the air before the bridge's columns give way and fall into the rock and water below. The bridge, which was finished earlier this year, was along a national highway linking the country's heartland with Tibet. The bridge opened to the public on September 28 and measured 625 metres from the base of the bridge to the bottom of the gorge.  It was also near the Shuangjiangku Hydropower Station and dam, which is being constructed in a gorge on the Dadu River. When the dam is completed, it will be the tallest dam in the world and has been under construction for nearly a decade. 

Hongqi bridge红旗桥 collapsed in southwest China’s Sichuan province on Nov.11, months after opening.

Official: The bridge collapsed because a landslide, the danger was detected one day in advance, and traffic was prohibited with no casualties. pic.twitter.com/UUeFMhtaXz

— China in Pictures (@tongbingxue) November 12, 2025

Preliminary investigations suggest the collapse was caused by geological instability in the steep mountain region, which has a history of landslides. The local government said a detailed technical investigation is underway to determine whether any structural or engineering flaws contributed to the disaster.