China: Two killed after ship rams into bridge, plunging vehicles into a river

The bridge was scheduled to be upgraded, but plans were postponed three times.

A cargo ship collided with a bridge in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou early Thursday, dropping five vehicles, including a public bus, into the river.

The collision occurred at around 05:30 a.m. local time and claimed the lives of two people and left one injured. Three people are still missing, according to state media.

Image on broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) footage shows a part of the bridge fractured, trapping the ship beneath it.

The ship was sailing from Foshan to Guangzhou when it collided with the Lixinsha Bridge in Guangzhou. The vessel did not appear to be carrying any cargo.

The ship's captain has been arrested, and residents in the area have been evacuated, according to local media. The company owning the ship has stated that they are helping with the investigation.

According to a resident a homeowner said the water supply and internet service in his community had been interrupted.

The bridge was scheduled to be upgraded, but plans were postponed three times, according to CCTV.

In October 2021, provincial officials recognised the necessity to build "collision avoidance facilities" to safeguard the bridge's structural stability.

The operation was originally slated to be completed in September 2022, but the deadline was then extended to August 2023 and then to August of this year.

Guangzhou is located on the Pearl River delta and is one of the busiest seaports in mainland China.

Nansha, the district where the incident occurred, is southern China's fastest-growing port, with cargo volumes increasing year after year since its opening in 2004.