A tragedy unfolded in the Chinese city of Guangzhou on Thursday when an empty cargo ship crashed into a highway bridge, resulting in the collapse of the bridge's deck. The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. local time near the Pearl River delta in southern China.

The collision between the cargo ship and one of the bridge's support structures led to the bridge deck falling into the river below, along with four vehicles, including a bus. Sadly, the crash resulted in two fatalities. The ship's captain has been detained, and residents in the area were evacuated following the event.

Reports state that two individuals were treated for injuries sustained during the incident and are now in stable condition. Emergency response teams, including divers and crews from about 15 boats, were mobilized to the scene to assist with the aftermath.

Local media revealed that the bridge in Guangzhou had been in need of reinforcement works on some of its foundations, with authorities previously calling for the installation of collision avoidance facilities. Despite several deadline extensions, the necessary works had not been carried out.

The company that owns the cargo ship is cooperating with the ongoing investigation into the collision. Residents in the vicinity experienced disruptions to basic services, such as water supply and internet, as a result of the incident.