A dramatic eyewitness video captured the moment a car perched on the edge of a collapsed bridge in flood-hit Xiaogan, Hubei province, China, slipped into a fast-moving river after the structure gave way on May 25. The incident came after days of heavy and prolonged rainfall had battered the region and caused severe flooding.
According to local media reports, the vehicle had become stranded on the damaged bridge after it malfunctioned and was unable to reverse. The driver and passengers were able to get out of the car before it fell, avoiding injury in the collapse. The clip shows the vehicle teetering at the edge as the bridge section fails, sending the car down into the swollen water below.
The bridge collapse is the latest example of the damage caused by extreme weather in parts of central China, where persistent rain has swollen rivers, flooded streets, and increased the risk of infrastructure failures. Authorities in the area have been dealing with the effects of the storms, including road disruptions, waterlogging, and safety warnings for residents.
The footage has drawn attention to the dangers faced by motorists and pedestrians during severe flooding, especially when bridges and roads have been weakened by prolonged exposure to fast-rising water. Local reports said the vehicle’s mechanical failure left it unable to move away from the danger zone in time, turning a routine journey into a life-threatening emergency.
The collapse in Xiaogan occurred as emergency workers and local officials continued to monitor flood conditions and assess damage in the affected areas. Heavy rainfall in Hubei province has disrupted transportation and heightened concerns about further structural damage as water levels remain elevated.
In recent years, China has experienced a growing number of extreme weather events, including intense rainfall and flooding that have tested local infrastructure and emergency response systems. Incidents such as the bridge collapse in Xiaogan underscore the vulnerability of aging or weakened structures when exposed to prolonged heavy rain and floodwaters.
No immediate reports indicated that anyone was injured in the incident, though the car was lost to the river after the bridge gave way. The video serves as a stark reminder of how quickly flood-related emergencies can unfold and how important it is for travelers to avoid compromised roads, bridges, and other infrastructure during severe weather.
The collapse has also highlighted the broader risks of travel during flood emergencies, when even minor vehicle problems can become dangerous if roads or crossings are unstable. As flood-hit regions in Hubei continue to recover, authorities are expected to keep inspecting bridges and other critical transport links for storm-related damage.
