Death toll of viaduct collapse rises to 9

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-18 22:19

ZHUZHOU, Hunan -- The rescue operation has been called off as all bodies from Sunday's viaduct collapse in central China's Hunan Province have been recovered.

A total of nine people died and 16 others were injured, rescue headquarters reported at a press conference convened Monday evening.

And 24 motor vehicles were also destroyed.

Death toll of viaduct collapse rises to 9

Rescuers examine the buried road at the site of a viaduct collapse accident that had killed 9 and injured 16 in downtown Zhuzhou, central China's Hunan province, May 17, 2009. [Xinhua] More Photos

About 200 meters of the viaduct, supported by eight pillars, collapsed at 4:24 p.m. Sunday on Hongqi road in downtown Zhuzhou city. The road and vehicles passing beneath were buried.

All the 16 people who were injured were hospitalized but no one is in life-threatening condition.

Due to a miscalculation, the number of injuries was placed at 17 in a previous Xinhua report filed earlier Monday.

Equipped with more than 30 sets of large machinery, some 2,000 personnel were mobilized to participate in the rescue operation.

Lia Jiakun, deputy chief of the State Administration of Work Safety, was in charge of rescue operations.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident. So far, nine people have been placed under police surveillance.

The viaduct, which came into use in 1995, was 2,750 meters long and eight meters tall.

As it spanned over the bustling Hongqi Square and used to cause traffic congestion in the area, the city government closed it May 5.

It was due to be demolished Wednesday.