Negligence and Dereliction of Duty Claim 62 Lives, Prompting Accountability and Safety Measures

Negligence and Dereliction of Duty Exposed

Authorities in Northwest China's Shaanxi province have held five entities and 43 public officials accountable for their roles in the collapse of a highway bridge in July 2022. The disaster, which claimed the lives of 62 people, was attributed to negligence and dereliction of duty.

The collapse occurred on July 19th, when flash floods caused by heavy rainfall swept away part of a bridge in Zhashui county, Shangluo. The disaster sent 25 vehicles plunging into the river below, causing significant economic losses.

An investigation led by the Ministry of Emergency Management revealed a combination of factors contributing to the collapse. Mountain and basin-wide floods carried large amounts of debris, including tree trunks, which clogged the bridge piers. The pressure of the water and debris exceeded the piers' capacity, causing the foundation to fail.

The investigation also uncovered serious flaws in the construction, management, design, and supervision of the bridge, as well as inadequate river-related oversight. Illegal subcontracting, non-compliant construction practices, and falsified supervision and testing records were identified as key issues.

The Shaanxi Provincial Department of Transportation, the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Water Resources, the Shangluo and Zhashui governments, and Shaanxi Transportation Holding Group were held accountable for their negligence. 43 individuals were penalized, with 38 receiving disciplinary and administrative punishments within the Communist Party of China, while three were given warnings or admonishments. Two individuals were arrested on suspicion of criminal activity, along with one individual from a construction consulting firm.

Authorities have proposed a series of preventive measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future. These include strengthening responsibility for major safety risks, improving disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities on expressways, enhancing oversight of river-related infrastructure, and enforcing a lifelong accountability system for expressway construction quality.