11 Face Prosecution Over Xinjiang Bridge Collapse That Killed Five

Flawed construction and botched repairs caused the fatal suspension bridge collapse at Xinjiang's Xiata Scenic Area last August, investigators have concluded, with 11 people referred to judicial authorities for prosecution.

The Jiangjun Bridge, in Zhaosu County of the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, collapsed on August 6, 2025, killing five people and injuring 24. Direct economic losses reached 20.3 million yuan (US$2.97 million), according to a report released on Wednesday by the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region government.

Construction crews used pulleys in place of cable saddles, leaving the multi-tower suspension bridge with inherent structural flaws from the start. Two later repair jobs skipped basic construction procedures.

Over time, the main cables suffered severe wear and fatigue from constant friction and repeated bending, investigators said. Lateral shifts caused the cables to grind against the edges of the pulleys, snapping large numbers of wires and strands until the bridge gave way.

The report classified the collapse as a major work safety incident caused by multiple failures. The scenic area management committee allowed illegal construction and failed to provide adequate oversight. The operator and repair contractor carried out unauthorized work and returned the bridge to service without required inspections. Local Party and government bodies performed their duties poorly, conducted superficial hazard checks and treated a special campaign to rectify suspension bridge safety as a formality, the report said.

Beyond the 11 people referred for prosecution, five company employees and 22 public officials face Party or administrative discipline. Five operators including Zhaosu County Tourism Service Center Co will face penalties, and 12 regulatory bodies, among them the Zhaosu scenic area management committee, have been ordered to rectify.