Yellow River Bridge Collapse Investigation: Substandard Bolts Caused 13 Deaths
Yellow River Bridge Collapse Kills 13: Investigation Blames Substandard Bolts and Systemic Safety Failures
Chinese authorities have released the investigation report into the August 22, 2025 collapse of the Jianzha Yellow River Bridge during construction of the Xining-Chengdu Railway, which killed 13 workers and left 3 missing, with direct economic losses of approximately 48.86 million RMB.
Root Cause: Substandard Bolts
The investigation found that the temporary cable-stayed anchorage system used inferior bolts that had approximately 41% lower load-bearing capacity than national standards. Additionally:
- Bolt holes were not drilled according to design specifications
- Workers arbitrarily enlarged holes on-site when bolts could not be aligned, altering the bolt group stress mechanism
- The beam fractured at the joint during second-stage cable tensioning, causing complete system failure
Systemic Failures
The investigation identified widespread problems:
- Serious quality management loopholes in bolt procurement across participating construction companies
- Illegal subcontracting of beam fabrication with zero oversight
- Superficial acceptance inspections — design, construction, and acceptance processes were performed in name only
- Safety neglected for schedule — the principle of managing operations while ignoring safety was prominent
Accountability
- 11 individuals transferred for prosecution on charges of major liability accident and producing/selling substandard safety products
- 42 personnel across multiple organizations received disciplinary action from the discipline inspection commission
- Companies including China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group and its subsidiaries face administrative penalties
- A mechanical parts manufacturer in Hebei was found to be the source of the defective bolts
Six Key Lessons
The report outlines lessons including: strengthening safety awareness, enforcing quality source control, strict adherence to construction procedures, regulating subcontracting management, and addressing temporary facility safety gaps.
Source: Qinghai Provincial Emergency Management Department — Zhihu 8.81M views