Four held over deadly bridge collapse

New Straits Times Online, 5 May 2014

BEIJING: Chinese authorities said Sunday that four people had been detained over a bridge collapse in southern Guangdong province that killed 11 people and severely injured two, state media reported.

The stone arch bridge under construction in Liangping village in Gaozhou  City collapsed at about 1:00 pm on Saturday, the official Xinhua news agency  said.
   
The unlicensed bridge was being built by the village itself. The local  government ordered suspension of the project in April, but construction had  resumed covertly.
   
The village committee director, two people working for the construction  contractor and another official were held responsible for the accident, said  Liang Ruibo, Gaozhou City spokesperson, according to Xinhua.
   
Further investigations were under way.
   
An earlier Xinhua report said rescuers pulled 27 people out of the debris  including five who were confirmed dead on the spot and eight with serious  injuries. Six of those died later in hospital.--AFP

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