An investigation into a suspension bridge collapse in northwest China's Xinjiang that killed five and injured 24 has blamed construction flaws and safety violations, authorities said Wednesday. Eleven people have been referred to judicial authorities. The accident occurred on August 6, 2025, at a scenic spot in Zhaosu County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, when a suspension cable snapped.
Investigators found the bridge had not been built according to its design, using pulleys instead of cable saddles, which created structural defects. Two subsequent repair efforts also failed to follow basic construction procedures. The main cable suffered prolonged friction and repeated bending, leading to severe wear and fatigue before rupturing. Direct economic losses were estimated at 20.315 million yuan (about $2.98 million).
The incident took place at 6:15pm on August 6 at the Jiangjun Bridge in Xiata Scenic Area, Yili, when the south-side main cable snapped, causing the deck to tilt and hurl tourists into the river below. About 120 tourists were on the bridge, well below its design load of 2,500. A survivor told Southern Metropolis Daily that some tourists shook the bridge beforehand, but the report stated the direct cause was engineering defects, not tourist actions.
As a result, 11 individuals have been transferred to judicial authorities. Five company employees and 22 government officials received disciplinary or administrative penalties. Five production entities, including Zhaosu County Tourism Service Center Co., Ltd., were penalized according to law. Twelve supervisory departments, including the Zhaosu Scenic Area Management Committee, must submit written self-criticisms to higher authorities.
The South China Morning Post cited the report describing it as a 'wholly man-made disaster' due to legal violations, gross negligence, and dereliction of duty.