Taiwan English News
Date: October 1, 2019
By: Phillip Charlier
A bridge spanning a harbor in Yilan County collapsed this morning, October 1, crushing fishing boats moored below it, and leaving crew members trapped or injured.
At around 9:30am, a fuel tanker was passing over the 140 meter long Nanfang’ao Bridge when the bridge suddenly collapsed. Video footage of the incident shows the tanker passing the center of the bridge when a suspension cable suddenly snaps and the deck collapses.
The bridge collapsed onto three fishing boats moored below, leaving crew members injured or trapped.
Early reports stated that more than 20 people were injured in the incident, but by early afternoon it was clarified that at least 12 people were injured, including 11 fishing boat crew, and the tanker driver. Most of the injured fishing crew are of Indonesian and Philippine nationality. [FULL STORY]