Sat Aug 23 09:36:35 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
An under-construction railway bridge collapsed in Qinghai province, northwest China, on August 22, 2025, resulting in at least 12 deaths and four missing workers. The incident occurred when a steel cable snapped during a tensioning operation at approximately 3 a.m. local time. A large section of the bridge, which is 1.6km long and 55m above the Yellow River, is missing. Search and rescue efforts are underway using boats, a helicopter, and robots.
**News Article:**
**China Bridge Collapse Claims 12 Lives, Four Still Missing**
*Beijing, August 23, 2025 (The Hindu) –* A devastating collapse of an under-construction railway bridge in China’s Qinghai province has left at least 12 workers dead and four still missing, according to state media reports. The incident occurred at approximately 3 a.m. on Friday, August 22nd, 2025, when a steel cable snapped during a tensioning operation on the bridge spanning a major river.
Aerial photographs released by the Xinhua News Agency depict a significant portion of the bridge’s curved arch missing, with a section of the deck hanging precariously into the Yellow River, 55 meters below. Sixteen workers were reportedly on the bridge at the time of the collapse.
“The incident is a tragedy, and our thoughts are with the families of the victims,” said a statement released by Chinese authorities.
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, utilizing boats, a helicopter, and specialized robots to locate the missing workers. The 1.6km long bridge was a key infrastructure project in the region. The cause of the cable failure is under investigation. The incident raises serious questions about construction safety standards and oversight. The collapse is expected to have a significant impact on transportation and logistics in the region.
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