A suspension bridge accident at Xiata Scenic Area in Zhaosu county killed five people and injured 24 others. The incident happened on August 6, 2025, at 6:18 pm local time when a suspension cable broke on Jiangjun Bridge.
The bridge deck tilted sharply after the cable snapped. Twenty-nine people fell from the structure. Medical teams transported all casualties to local hospitals. Two victims suffered major injuries.
Video Shows Tourists Clinging to Damaged Bridge
Footage spread across Chinese social media platforms Weibo and Douyin. The videos captured the suspension bridge hanging at a steep angle over a fast-flowing river.
Tourists clung to the remaining suspended section of the tilted bridge. Stranded visitors tried crossing to safety by balancing on the damaged structure. Other clips showed one casualty being carried on a makeshift stretcher onto a tram.
Tour guide Yun Shang posted on Douyin about leading a group at the scene during the accident. His tour group included a navy soldier who helped injured victims. Yun’s group joined rescue efforts.
Second Bridge Failure in 14 Months
Jiemian News reported the same bridge suffered a similar incident on June 19, 2024. The earlier accident involved a snapped suspension cable that tilted the bridge deck. No injuries occurred in that previous incident.
Police closed Xiata Scenic Area temporarily for safety investigations. The tourist destination in northern Xinjiang’s Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture attracts visitors for natural views and hiking trails.
Authorities have not set a reopening date for the scenic area.
