Qinghai, China, August 23, 2025: At least 12 workers were killed and four others reported missing after a railway bridge under construction collapsed over the Yellow River in Qinghai province early Friday, state media confirmed.
The collapse occurred around 3 am during a tensioning operation when a steel cable snapped, bringing down a large section of the structure. Aerial images released by Xinhua showed part of the bridge’s aquamarine arch missing and a twisted section of the deck hanging into the river.
Sixteen workers were on the bridge when the incident took place. Search operations are underway with boats, a helicopter, and robots deployed to locate the missing workers.
The bridge, which stretches 1.6 kilometres with a deck 55 metres above the river, was a key part of an upcoming railway project, according to China Daily.
