From Chinese Press

Get to the root of bridge collapse

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-02 08:15

The Luanchuan county government in Henan province has apologized to the people through the media for the collapse of a bridge recently. But what it needs to do is to punish the officials responsible for the shoddy project, says an article in Yangcheng Evening News. Excerpts:

A flood-ravaged bridge in Henan's Luanchuan county collapsed recently, killing at least 37 people and leaving 29 missing. What has angered people is that the bridge was just 22 years old and was declared to be "very strong". Moreover the local transport bureau had spent 600,000 yuan ($88,235) on its maintenance just last year.

Higher authorities should immediately order an investigation into the incident and find out, among other things, why no steel rods or cables were found in the deck of the collapsed bridge and whether the maintenance money was used properly.

They should not be lenient with the local government just because it has apologized for the tragedy.

(China Daily 08/02/2010 page9)