Beijing, August 23, 2025: At least 12 construction workers were killed and four remain missing after an under-construction railway bridge collapsed over the Yellow River in northwest China’s Qinghai province, state media reported on Saturday.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the accident occurred around 3 a.m. on Friday when a steel cable snapped during a tensioning operation. Sixteen workers were on the bridge at the time.
Aerial images released by Xinhua show a large section missing from the bridge’s aquamarine arch, with part of the deck hanging bent and twisted into the river below.
Rescue operations are underway with boats, a helicopter, and underwater robots deployed to search for the missing workers.
The bridge, part of a major railway line, spans 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) and rises 55 meters (180 feet) above the river, according to China Daily.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse, while safety concerns over large-scale infrastructure projects have once again come under scrutiny in China.
