43 officials, 5 entities penalized for bridge collapse

Authorities in Northwest China's Shaanxi province have held five entities and 43 public officials accountable for negligence and dereliction of duty in connection with a highway bridge collapse that left 62 people dead or missing in July last year.

The collapse occurred on July 19, when flash floods caused by heavy rainfall swept away part of a bridge in Zhashui county in Shangluo, Shaanxi province. The disaster sent 25 vehicles plunging into the river below, causing direct economic losses estimated at 157.51 million yuan ($21.68 million).

Following the incident, an investigation team led by the Ministry of Emergency Management and composed of experts in bridge engineering, water resources, transportation, meteorology and geology was formed in accordance with the emergency laws. The probe examined the performance of local governments and relevant departments to determine their responsibilities.

Investigators found that the collapse was caused by a combination of mountain and basin-wide floods that carried large amounts of floating debris, including tree trunks, which clogged the bridge piers. The pressure of the water and debris exceeded the piers' bearing capacity, ultimately causing the foundation to fail.

The assessment also revealed serious flaws in the construction, management, design and supervision of expressway bridges, as well as inadequate river-related oversight. Investigators identified illegal subcontracting, non-compliant construction practices and falsified supervision and testing records as key issues.

The Shaanxi Provincial Department of Transportation, the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Water Resources, the Shangluo and Zhashui governments, and Shaanxi Transportation Holding Group were the entities held accountable.

Of the 43 individuals penalized, 38 received disciplinary and administrative punishments within the Communist Party of China, while three were given warnings or admonishments. Two others were arrested on suspicion of criminal activity, along with one individual from a construction consulting firm.

Authorities have since proposed a series of preventive measures, including strengthening responsibility for major safety risks, improving disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities on expressways, enhancing oversight of river-related infrastructure and enforcing a lifelong accountability system for expressway construction quality.