Nine missing after China bridge collapse: Xinhua

Beijing, June 16: Nine people are missing after a mile-long Chinese bridge collapsed at dawn in the southern province of Guangdong after being hit by a boat laden with sand, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Seven of the missing were travelling along the bridge in vehicles at the time of the accident, while two others were strolling along the structure, Xinhua said today.

Four of the roughly 130 vehicles that crossed the bridge during the hour of the accident fell into the water yesterday, Xinhua said.

Part of the bridge fell onto the boat and caused it to sink.

The bridge which connects Foshan to the neighbouring city of Heshan, runs over the Xijiang, a major tributary of the Pearl River Delta. Heavy rains in Southern China have made the river run higher and faster than usual.

Reuters>