People watched in horror as an arch bridge collapsed into a harbor in Nanfangao, Taiwan on Tuesday.
According to local reports, at least 20 people were injured and three fishing boats were crushed in the shocking accident after an oil tanker truck that was on the bridge dove into the water and onto the vessels, triggering a massive fire.
The disaster was caught on tape by at least two surveillance cameras and the footage brings back memories of last year’s horrific bridge collapse in Genoa, Italy. Fortunately, no deaths have been reported, although six crew members are feared trapped on one of the fishing boats.
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Hundreds of rescuers rushed to the scene with cranes, an excavator and other machines to free the boats trapped under debris, while divers searched the waters for people who were trapped.
“The bridge collapsed at around 9:30 a.m. while an oil tanker vehicle was on it, setting the vehicle on fire. We feared that some fishermen might be trapped in the boats,” local authorities told Reuters.
According to Taiwan’s National Fire Agency, most of the injured were foreign fishermen. So far, the reason for the bridge’s collapse in clear weather remains unknown. With a length of 140 meters (460 feet) and a height of 18 meters (nearly 60 feet), the bridge was the only single-span arch bridge in Taiwan supported by cables and the second single arch-cable steel bridge in the world.
It may or may not have something to do with typhoon Mitag which swept past northeastern Taiwan on Monday, bringing winds of up to 162 km/h (100 mph) and injuring 12 people. More than 66,000 homes were left without power, with the massive storm also causing the cancelation of more than 150 flights.