• A section of the Hongqi bridge in Sichuan collapsed shortly after opening.
• Authorities detected cracks and closed the bridge to traffic prior to the incident.
• No casualties were reported due to the timely evacuation of vehicles.
• The bridge was part of a national highway linking Sichuan to Tibet.
• Investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing.

A section of the newly opened Hongqi bridge in Sichuan province collapsed on November 11, shortly after authorities detected cracks and closed it to traffic. The 758-meter-long bridge was designed to connect Sichuan to Tibet, enhancing travel between the regions. Local officials reported that no casualties occurred, as the structure had been closed by police for inspection after observing significant ground movement and cracks in the nearby slopes. Initially completed this year, the bridge was viewed as a milestone in local infrastructure development, according to Indiatimes and Channel News Asia.

On the day of the incident, conditions on the mountainside reportedly worsened, leading to landslides that caused the collapse of the bridge's approach and roadbed. Videos from the scene showed dust billowing as parts of the bridge fell into the river below. The local government confirmed that inspections revealing a 10 cm crack in the previous day necessitated the closure, preventing any vehicular passage and likely averting further disaster, as reported by South China Morning Post and Channel News Asia.

Experts are now investigating the collapse's specifics amidst claims from authorities that there were no quality issues concerning the construction of the bridge. The area has a history of landslides due to its mountainous terrain, which was acknowledged given the geological challenges faced during the bridge's construction. This incident has reignited concerns about infrastructure safety in regions prone to extreme weather and geological changes, as detailed in reports from South China Morning Post and Indiatimes.