Four missing after cargo ship hits bridge in Guangdong, China

Authorities in Guangdong province in southern China have reported that four people have gone missing after the vessel they were serving on struck a bridge in the city of Foshan on Monday, April 22.

The unidentified vessel was transporting 4,900 tonnes of steel coil between the provinces of Heshan and Fujian when it struck a pier of Foshang’s Jiujiang Bridge at around 21:20 local time on Monday.

The vessel sank a little over two hours later. Seven survivors were eventually picked up out of the water by the crews of some Good Samaritan boats that had diverted to the area to render assistance.

Local maritime officials have begun implementing stricter control of vessel traffic in the waters around the Jiujiang Bridge so that the search for the four missing sailors will not be disrupted by passing ships.

One official said the incident may have occurred partly due to the river’s unusually high water level, which was the result of days of heavy rainfall.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.