Vehicles missing after China bridge collapes

BEIJING, June 15 (Reuters) A mile-long Chinese road bridge packed with cars and trucks collapsed early today after being hit by a boat laden with sand, Chinese and Hong Kong news reports said, leaving part of the highway leading directly into the sea.

There were 130 vehicles crossing the 1.6-km bridge in the southern province of Guangdong at the time and five were unaccounted for, Hong Kong's RTHK radio reported, quoting local officials.

The Chinese government's Web site, www.china.com.cn, said six cars were missing.

The accident happened around 5 a.m. when the sand boat was passing under the bridge, which connects Foshan to the neighbouring city of Heshan.

Frogmen were searching for survivors, RTHK said.

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

The collapsed bridge segment fell directly onto the boat, causing it to sink almost immediately.

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

The bridge runs over the Xijiang, a major tributary of the Pearl River.

REUTERS AGL BST1327