At least two people have been killed and another was injured after a cargo ship rammed into a bridge and snapped it in half.
But the death toll resulting from the incident, which happened in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong on February 21, is feared to increase, as three people are still missing.
As a result of the deadly collision, two vehicles including a bus plunged into the Pearl River Delta, while three others landed on the vessel after it crashed on the Lixinsha Bridge, according to the local maritime search and rescue centre.
Astonishing images show the ship trapped underneath the infrastructure. Debris and vehicles that fell from the bridge onto the vessel can be also spotted.
In the dramatic picture, the bridge is split in two, with the section that used to connect the two halves plunged underneath.
Police vessels were also seen at the scene. The ship’s captain was detained and people living near the area have been evacuated, local media said citing district authorities.
The company owning the vessel reportedly said it is cooperating with the ongoing police investigation.
The vessel, which didn’t appear to be carrying any cargo, was also photographed being towed away after the incident.
The bridge had been identified as due for upgrades, according to Chinese broadcaster CCTV, with authorities in Guangdong noting in October 2021 that “collision avoidance facilities” were needed.
A similar project would have granted structural safety to the infrastructure.
The project was initially scheduled for completion in September 2022, but the deadline was extended twice – first to August 2023 and then to August this year.
Nansha, the district where the incident happened, is located at the southernmost end of Guangzhou City, and is the fastest-growing port in southern China.
Guangzhou itself is one of the busiest seaports in China, serving as both a transportation and commercial hub.
