Container Ship Hits Bridge, Knocking Cars Into River Below

A cargo ship traveling near the Chinese city of Guangzhou caused disaster Thursday when it crashed into a highway bridge. The collision broke the deck of the bridge free from its supports and plunged four vehicles into the river below. The crash, first reported by BBC News, happened around 5:30 a. m. local time on Thursday when an empty cargo ship was sailing through the Pearl River delta in southern China. The ship reportedly collided with one of the support structures for the Lixinsha Bridge to the south of the city of Guangzhou. When the deck fell into the river below, it brought with it five vehicles that were crossing the bridge at the time, including a bus. Local media reported that more than 100 emergency workers were called to the scene, including divers and crews working across "About 15 boats" in the river beneath the bridge. According to reports, the bridge in the city of Guangzhou had been overdue for reinforcement works on some of its foundations.