Railings on interprovincial bridge collapse in strong winds

An investigation has been launched after the railings on an interprovincial bridge between Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces collapsed on Friday.

The collapse occurred on the Wubu Yellow River Bridge, which connects Wubu county in Shaanxi province with Liulin county in Shanxi province. Videos online showed the collapsed railing stretching more than 100 meters on one side of the bridge.

The affected area was closed off on the same day, and relevant personnel were dispatched to handle the situation.

Wubu county said in an official statement that the collapse was caused by strong winds. The county also said that an investigation team has been formed to look into the incident.

The Wubu Yellow River Bridge was renovated by Shaanxi Road and Bridge Group and opened to traffic on Jan 20 this year. It allows only small vehicles and minibuses to pass.

The bridge is not a new structure. It was originally completed and put into use in 1969, serving as an essential link between North China and Northwest China. In 2000, the bridge underwent renovation and reinforcement. The opening on Jan 20 marked the latest phase of improvements.

The investigation into the collapse of the railing on the Wubu Yellow River Bridge continues, as authorities seek to determine the exact cause of the incident and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the bridge and its users.