China detains captain after deadly bridge collision

BEIJING, June 17 (Reuters) Chinese authorities have detained a captain and five other suspects after a boat ploughed into a bridge in the country's south, sending nine people plunging into a river.

The six detainees were accused of criminal blame for a major accident after the boat laden with sand struck a mile-long bridge in Guangdong province, the official Xinhua news agency reported today.

Seven of the missing were crossing the bridge in vehicles while two others were walking along it when the boat struck at 1030 hrs on Friday.

Part of the bridge collapsed on to the boat and sank it. The bridge which connects Foshan to the neighbouring city of Heshan, runs over the Xijiang, a major tributary of the Pearl River.

Investigators have identified owners of three of the vehicles that plunged into the river. But one was apparently using fake number plates, making identification difficult, Xinhua reported.

Families of those apparently killed in the collision have gathered near the bridge, waiting for firm news, the report said.

REUTERS SW BD1647