:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/grupoclarin/6QRRE7GX2VCB7KVYFDNZHOCKJQ.jpg "Container ship hits bridge in China, causing 2 deaths and partial collapse")
BEIJING (AP) — Two people are dead after a massive container ship crashed into a bridge near the port of Guangzhou in southern China early Thursday, causing a section of the bridge to collapse with vehicles.
Three people were missing and two others were rescued. One of the boat’s occupants suffered minor injuries, according to a statement from the municipal government of Guangzhou’s Nansha District on Thursday. The incident occurred around 05:00 on Thursday.
Three cars, a school bus and a motorcycle fell from the Lixinsha Bridge, authorities said. Two of the cars ended up in the water and the other three vehicles plunged into the empty ship.
Only the driver was on the bus, local press reported, which indicated that the authorities detained the owner of the boat.
In 2022 there were plans to build collision protection around some of the bridge’s pillars, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said, but work has been repeatedly delayed.
Rescuers were still working at the scene and authorities opened an investigation to determine the cause.