Dead recovered in viaduct collapse

By Li Xinran  |   2009-5-19  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

RESCUE operations were called off yesterday after all the bodies from Sunday's viaduct collapse in central China's Hunan Province were recovered.

Nine people died and 16 were injured, rescue headquarters officials reported at a news conference late yesterday. The injured were undergoing hospital treatment, but none were in life-threatening condition.

A 200-meter stretch of the viaduct, supported by eight pillars, collapsed on Sunday afternoon in downtown Zhuzhou, burying the road and cars beneath it. Twenty-four vehicles were destroyed, authorities said.

Some 2,000 workers were mobilized for the rescue operation.

Police last night were still investigating the cause of the accident, and 12 people had been placed under surveillance.

The viaduct, which went into use in 1995, was 2,750 meters long and eight meters tall. Because it spanned the bustling Hongqi Square and caused traffic congestion, city government closed it on May 5. It was due to be demolished tomorrow.