Tianzhuangtai Bridge in Panjin City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, suddenly collapsed at 7:02 am on Thursday. Vehicles were seen falling down from the 500-meter bridge over the Liaohe River, connecting Panjin and Yingkou City.

Rescuers are searching for those aboard two of the three vehicles which plunged into the Liaohe River, said the headquarters in charge of rescue and investigation of the incident.

But the number of passengers on board the two vehicles is not yet available.

Two people who survived the tragedy by swimming ashore were confirmed to be passengers of the third vehicle, which fell into the 10-meter-deep river after the Tianzhuangtai Bridge collapsed suddenly.

Initial investigation showed that a snapped girder is the reason behind the collapse of the bridge, which was opened to traffic in 1977.

Liaoning Vice Governor Hu Xiaohua has rushed to the scene to direct the rescue operation, which started after the tide ebbed as the incident took place near an estuary at the time the tide was setting in.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2004)