Large mudslide destroys highway bridge in Sichuan, China
Image credit: CGTN
A highway bridge in Kangding, China’s Sichuan Province, collapsed on August 3, 2024, after being struck by a large mudslide, causing three vehicles to plunge into the mountainous terrain below and leaving five people missing.
A highway bridge connecting two tunnels in southwest China’s Sichuan province collapsed in the early hours of August 3 after being hit by a mudslide, causing three vehicles to plunge into the mountainous terrain below. The incident occurred on the Kangding-Luding section of the Yakang Expressway in Sichuan Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.
One passenger was rescued, and five others were still missing as of 11:00 LT on August 3. The accident occurred at approximately 03:30 local time when a “sudden mudslide” struck the area.
Latest reports suggest that the mudslide also hit a nearby village afterward, claiming 4 lives and leaving 23 missing.
In the early morning of August 3, a mudslide broke out in a ravine in Kangding, Sichuan, causing the collapse of a highway bridge. The mudslide then poured into a village, killing four people and leaving 23 missing. pic.twitter.com/rBCD6KcPsp
— Jim (@yangyubin1998) August 4, 2024
Rescue work continues in the mudslide-stricken village in Sichuan.
— Frontline (@Frontlinestory) August 4, 2024
As of 11 PM Saturday, 4 people had been killed and 23 others remained missing following a flash flood and mudslide in #Kangding, #Sichuan, SW #China. pic.twitter.com/24DZAgUg7J
“The bridge connecting two tunnels on an expressway collapsed at around 03:30 on Saturday at the section between Kangding City and Luding County of the Ya’an-Kangding Expressway,” reported the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture’s publicity department.
Rescue efforts are underway, with the Ministry of Emergency Management dispatching around 300 rescuers to the site, reported South China Morning Post.
As of noon LT on August 3, “more than 150 rescuers, 10 vehicles, 10 units of rescue equipment, one unmanned aerial vehicle, and one helicopter have been dispatched to the site,” stated Xinhua.
The local government of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture stated that the bridge “collapsed due to a sudden mountain torrent and landslide.” They confirmed that “at least three vehicles had plunged off the road, carrying six people, of whom one person has been rescued and five are missing.”
This incident marks China’s second bridge collapse in less than a month.
In a separate but related incident, state broadcaster CCTV reported that in nearby Ridi village, “a sudden mountain torrent and landslide” on the night of August 2 destroyed homes, killed at least two people, and left 12 missing.
References:
1 1 rescued, 5 missing after tunnel bridge collapse in SW China – Xinhua – August 3, 2024
2 5 missing in China’s Sichuan as bridge collapse sends cars plunging down slopes – SCMP – August 3, 2024
3 At least five missing after bridge collapse in southwest China – AFP – August 3, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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