China: Ship rams bridge, plunging cars into river in Guangzhou
Early on Thursday in the Chinese city of Guangzhou, a cargo ship collided with a bridge, causing five vehicles, including a public bus, to plunge into the river below.
The incident resulted in the deaths of two individuals and one person sustaining injuries, with three individuals still unaccounted for, as reported by state media.
Images broadcasted on CCTV depict a fractured section of the bridge with the ship trapped beneath it. Notably, the vessel did not appear to be carrying any cargo.
The collision occurred at 05:30 local time (21:30 GMT). Subsequently, the ship’s captain was detained, and residents in the vicinity were evacuated, according to local media citing district authorities.
The company owning the ship stated its cooperation with the ongoing investigation, as per reports.
One resident mentioned that water supply and internet services in his neighborhood were temporarily suspended.
In October 2021, provincial authorities had recognized the necessity to reinforce the bridge, including the installation of “collision avoidance facilities” at four bridge piers, as reported by CCTV.
The deadline for completing these enhancements had been postponed three times, most recently to August of the current year, according to the report.
Guangzhou, situated on the Pearl River delta, is one of mainland China’s busiest seaports.
Nansha, the district where the incident took place, is the fastest-growing port in southern China, with cargo volumes increasing every year since it opened in 2004.
