Hongqi Bridge collapses in Tibet’s Barkham

The newly inaugurated Hongqi Bridge in Barkham (Ma’erkang), Aba Tibetan Prefecture, collapsed on 13 November 2025, with authorities confirming that no casualties occurred. The 758-metre structure, opened in January, had been closed to traffic a day earlier after cracks were detected in the nearby slopes. The bridge formed part of China’s National Highway G317 and served as an access route to the Shuangjiangkou Hydropower Station. Observers say the collapse highlights persistent concerns surrounding large infrastructure projects built across Tibet’s fragile terrain, which remains highly vulnerable to earthquakes, landslides, erosion and permafrost-related instability.