Five people lost their lives in a tragic incident when a large container ship struck support pillars for a bridge over a river in southern China. The collision caused a section of the roadway and five vehicles to plunge into the water below, says an article published on abc news website.
Summary
- A tragic incident occurred in southern China when a large container ship collided with support pillars for a bridge over a river, resulting in five fatalities.
- Among the vehicles that fell from the bridge were three small trucks, a bus, and a scooter. The bus, scooter, and one truck landed inside the empty ship, while the other two trucks plunged into the water.
- Authorities attributed the accident to “improper operation by the crew,” with the ship hitting a bridge support and another pillar, leading to the collapse of a section of the bridge deck.
- The collapse disrupted water and access to an island inhabited by around 8,000 people, primarily farmers. Temporary measures, such as setting up water lines and a ferry service, were implemented to assist residents.
- The Lixinsha Bridge spans a waterway near the mouth of the Pearl River, a region known for being one of China’s major manufacturing and transport hubs.
Details Of The Accident
The accident occurred south of the city of Guangzhou. Among the vehicles that fell from the bridge were three small trucks, a bus, and a scooter. The bus, scooter, and one truck landed inside the empty ship, while the other two trucks plunged into the water.
Cause Of The Accident
Authorities attributed the accident to “improper operation by the crew.” The ship first struck a bridge support, followed by the bow hitting another pillar, leading to the collapse of a section of the bridge deck.
Impact On Residents
The collapse of the Lixinsha Bridge disrupted water and access to an island inhabited by around 8,000 people, primarily farmers. Temporary measures, such as setting up water lines and a ferry service, were implemented to assist residents.
Location And Significance Of The Bridge
The Lixinsha Bridge spans a waterway near the mouth of the Pearl River, a region known for being one of China’s major manufacturing and transport hubs. It houses two of the world’s busiest ports, according to the World Shipping Council.
Casualties And Injuries
The fatalities included the bus driver, the scooter rider, and three individuals from the trucks that plunged into the river. Two others sustained injuries and were hospitalized in stable condition. A crew member aboard the ship also suffered minor injuries.
Legal Action
Chinese authorities detained the owner of the ship following the accident.
Bridge Reinforcement And Project Clarification
Officials mentioned that reinforcement work, including installing collision guards around some bridge pillars, had been completed in 2022. Although there were earlier reports of project delays, officials clarified that the delays did not affect the Lixinsha Bridge directly, as the project involved multiple bridges.
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Source: abc news
