A railway bridge under construction in China collapsed on Friday, leaving at least 12 people dead and four others missing, according to Xinhua, China’s official state news agency.
The bridge, which was nearing completion in Qinghai Province, in northwest China, collapsed when a steel cable snapped around 3 a.m., causing a section to plummet into the water below, Xinhua said.
Video shared by local news outlets appeared to show a central portion of the bridge shift and then collapse into the Yellow River in a shower of sparks and water.
More than 800 people joined a rescue effort on Friday, Xinhua said. There were 16 workers at the site at the time of the collapse, the news agency said. Twelve people were reported dead, with four others missing, according to the report.
The government is investigating the cause of the collapse, which Xinhua said was an accident.
The bridge is part of the Sichuan-Qinghai railway, which will connect the Tibetan Plateau with China’s high-speed rail network.
For years, China spent lavishly on infrastructure projects, rapidly constructing railways, airports and highways — at times seemingly overnight.
But lately it has pulled back on some infrastructure spending against the backdrop of a real estate collapse and a difficult economy.
Jonathan Wolfe is a Times reporter based in London, covering breaking news.
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