China train crash hurts 24; bridge collapse kills 3

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China train crash hurts 24; bridge collapse kills 3

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It was at least the sixth major bridge collapse across the country since July last year.

24 August,2012 11:32 am

Two transportation disasters struck a northeastern Chinese province, with a bridge collapse Friday upending four trucks and killing three people and a collision of passenger trains at a railway station injuring at least 24 people.The trucks plunged 30 meters (100 feet) after the bridge collapsed early Friday in Heilongjiang province, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Footage on state television showed the trucks crushed upside down, and officials reported three deaths.Xinhua said it was at least the sixth major bridge collapse across the country since July last year.The train collision occurred Thursday evening at the Jiamusi railway station in Heilongjiang, Xinhua said. The news agency cited a railway spokesman in the provincial capital as saying most of the injured were preparing to get off a train when the other train collided with it, causing them to fall.Most of the injuries were slight and five people were under medical observation, Xinhua said, adding that an investigation was under way.Train and road accidents are relatively common in China due to lax safety and maintenance procedures.