Truck Escapes Disaster as Guizhou Expressway Bridge Collapse

 

On June 25, 2025, a section of the Houzihé Grand Bridge along the Xiamen–Chengdu Expressway (G76 Xiarong Expressway) in Guizhou Province, China, collapsed due to a landslide triggered by prolonged heavy rainfall. The incident occurred at approximately 7:40 am.

According to transportation authorities, signs of structural instability were detected during a routine patrol at 5:51 am, prompting immediate traffic control measures for uphill lanes. By 7:11 am, full two-way traffic restrictions had been enforced on the bridge. These early actions likely prevented a larger disaster, as the bridge collapsed shortly thereafter.

At the time of the collapse, only one vehicle, a truck was present on the affected bridge segment. The truck driver was successfully rescued and did not sustain any injuries. There were no casualties reported at the scene. Emergency services responded swiftly to the situation, securing the site and confirming there were no additional victims under or near the structure.

The authorities have initiated a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact cause of the collapse. While the preliminary cause has been attributed to geological destabilisation from heavy rainfall, experts are now examining whether structural integrity issues or other engineering deficiencies also played a role.

The collapsed bridge is part of the key arterial Xiamen–Chengdu Expressway, also known as the G76 Xiarong Expressway, which connects southeastern and western China. The affected segment is located within a mountainous region of Sandu County, a known landslide-prone area during periods of intense seasonal rain.

In a related development, the Rongjiang County Government issued warnings on June 25, 2025, that three rivers, the Pingyong River, Zhaihao River, and Duliu River have experienced rapidly rising water levels due to the same bout of extreme rainfall. Forecast models project that these rivers may exceed once-in-30-year flood levels, prompting emergency response preparations and monitoring for potential evacuations in flood-prone areas.

The incident highlights the increasing infrastructure vulnerabilities across southern China during periods of intensified monsoonal weather, particularly in high-risk terrains like Guizhou Province. The Ministry of Transport and local disaster management authorities are collaborating on post-collapse assessments and are expected to announce mitigation steps to enhance slope stability and improve bridge safety inspections in the coming days.

As of the evening of June 25, follow-up engineering assessments were underway, and traffic diversions have been arranged to reroute vehicles away from the affected stretch. No timeline has been provided yet for the reconstruction of the damaged bridge segment.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, with public advisories issued regarding potential landslides, flash floods, and river overflows in surrounding counties. The Guizhou Provincial Meteorological Bureau has warned of more heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours.