Bridge collapses in Taiwan, more than 20 injured

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 1): A section of the Nanfang'ao Bridge in Taiwan has collapsed today injuring more than 20 people, according to an announcement by the Su'ao District Fisheries Association.

Reports stated that the bridge suddenly gave way at around 9.30am today while an oil tanker truck was just crossing it. The truck was seen in a video footage crashing and bursting into flames.

A report by Taiwan News stated that the Yilan County Fire Bureau has rescued 10 people. The same report quoted Su'ao Township Mayor Lee Ming-che saying that six fishermen are still trapped under the bridge.

Lee added the collapsing bridge it crushed three fishing boats with a total of 11 fishermen inside.

The 140m long bridge was completed in 1998 and spans a waterway in the Nanfang'ao fishing port.

A report by Focus Taiwan stated that it “is the only single steel arch bridge in Taiwan and was the first bifurcated single arch bridge in Asia”.

Video from the YouTube of Jarvis Lung

Video taken from Facebook of Yang-Yi Lee