Makeshift bridge to be built following collapse

Two spans and one support of the Lixinsha Bridge in Guangzhou's Nansha district, which was struck by a barge last week, will be dismantled, local officials said in a statement issued on Monday.

The district housing and urban-rural development bureau will then monitor the body of the bridge and provide expert opinions to accelerate repair work.

Construction of a makeshift automobile bridge was approved by experts over the weekend, with materials and machinery already sent to the site.

The makeshift bridge, scheduled to be completed in seven to 10 days, will connect Sanmin Island to the town of Minzhong in the neighboring city of Zhongshan.

A portion of the Lixinsha Bridge, the only land transport link to Sanmin Island, collapsed on Thursday morning after two supports were struck by the barge and a span collapsed. Five vehicles fell into the river, killing five people and injuring two.

The collapse of the bridge also destroyed a water supply pipeline, causing a temporary water supply shortage. The island is home to 9,100 people.

After more than 40 hours of repair work, water supply has now returned to normal. The travel needs of island residents have basically been met after two temporary ferry docks started operation over the weekend, increasing the frequency of ferry services, the statement said.

The district commerce bureau has established a special task force to transport daily necessities such as rice, meat, eggs, edible oil and noodles to the island.

Special shuttle buses running to and from the ferry docks are transporting students to primary and middle schools off the island.

A teacher from the only primary school on the island, who did not reveal her name, said it had resumed lessons on Monday.

Postal workers from the Nansha district post office are boarding ferries on motorbikes to deliver daily newspapers and packages to island residents.

Huang Fulin, 49, a banana grower, said life had basically returned to normal.

"But some farmers who are growing fruits and vegetables are still affected by the accident, as no vehicles can now reach the island to pick up fruits and other agricultural products," Huang said.

He said it took him at least an hour to travel to the island by ferry as the ferries and docks were usually crowded and he had to wait for a long time. A similar journey took just 20 minutes when he could drive on the bridge.

Yang Qianhang contributed to this story.