Unfinished bridge collapses in eastern China, leaving 2 dead and others missing

A sudden and catastrophic collapse at a major bridge construction site in China’s eastern Jiangsu province has left two workers dead, three others missing and a critical regional infrastructure project in disarray.At 5.46pm on Monday, a significant section of the under-construction Yuegang Bridge collapsed in Yancheng City’s Xiangshui County when the main span – measuring 95 metres (312 feet) – of the unfinished bridge suddenly gave way.The unfinished Yuegang Bridge collapsed on Monday when the main span suddenly gave way. Photo: HandoutTwo people pulled from the wreckage with severe injuries later died in hospital, while rescue teams are continuing to search for three colleagues who remain unaccounted for, according to a public notice released by the local county government on Tuesday.A multi-agency emergency operation involving fire, maritime and medical personnel is scouring the site on the Tongyu River, while authorities have imposed a temporary ban on waterway navigation in the immediate area to assist with the rescue and ensure public safety, state Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday.The collapsed bridge was a linchpin in the ambitious Lianyungang-Shanghai Line, a provincial initiative designed to create a high-capacity north-south water transport corridor.Undertaken by the state-owned China Railway 12th Bureau Group, the project had been progressing on a tight schedule.