Section of China road bridge collapses

BEIJING, June 15 (Reuters) A section of road bridge in south China collapsed early today after being hit by a boat laden with sand, the Xinhua news agency said. Pictures showed a section of highway leading into the sea metres below.

The accident occurred around 5 a m when the boat was passing under the bridge, which connects Foshan to the neighbouring city of Heshan, both in Guangdong province.

''The boat hit a pier of the bridge, and at least 150 metres (yards) of the bridge structure collapsed,'' Xinhua said.

Of the boat's 10 crew, two were injured, an official with the local police said.

''So far we don't know whether any vehicle fell into the river, but as the accident occurred at an early hour, there should not be too much traffic,'' he said.

The 1,600-metre bridge runs over the Xijiang, a major tributary of the Pearl River.

REUTERS AGL BST1155