On the afternoon of August 6th, the popular suspension bridge “General Bridge” in the Xiatu Scenic Area of Yili Prefecture, Xinjiang suddenly collapsed, causing 29 people to fall into the water. Among them, 5 people tragically lost their lives, and 22 others were injured. It’s worth noting that a similar rope-breaking incident had occurred on the bridge in 2024.
Around 6 pm on the 6th, the suspension bridge located in the Zhaosu County of the Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture in Yili, named “General Bridge,” is a well-known internet-famous bridge in the Xiatu Tourist Scenic Area.
Multiple videos taken by visitors at the scene showed the ropes of the bridge breaking, leading to severe tilting of the bridge deck. Many visitors were trapped on the bridge, with some falling into the river below, while others crouched on the bridge awaiting rescue.
According to the report from “Jiangnan Metropolis Daily” on August 7th, 29 people fell off the bridge. Among them, 5 died tragically, 22 sustained minor injuries, and 2 were severely injured.
Eyewitnesses stated that at the time of the incident, there were a large number of people on the bridge, including many elderly and children, with some people even shaking the bridge from side to side.
Some witnesses reported that the river below the bridge is wide with turbulent currents and a rocky bottom. Once visitors fall in, it’s challenging to stabilize themselves and stand, making it easy to be swept away by the water.
Regarding the cause of the suspension bridge collapse, some visitors speculated that the high density of people on the bridge, intentional shaking by some visitors, might have increased the load on the main rope, leading to its breakage.
Back on June 19, 2024, the bridge had experienced a similar incident of breakage: the main rope was damaged, resulting in visitors getting injured. Fortunately, there were no fatalities at that time. The scenic area had promised to strengthen bridge inspections and maintenance afterward. However, a year later, almost the same tragic event occurred again.
On the evening of the 6th, the Zhaosu Scenic Area Management Committee announced that safety inspections will be carried out at the Xiatu and Yuhu Scenic Areas. Both areas were temporarily closed starting from August 6th, with the reopening date to be notified separately.
The Xiatu Scenic Area, located in Zhaosu County, Xinjiang, is a 4A-level scenic spot known for its magnificent scenery and adventure activities that attract tourists from all over. The summer vacation period is particularly a peak time for tourism in the area.