Trucks tumble into river as China bridge collapses

A bridge collapsed in north-eastern China on Thursday, sending vehicles tumbling into a river below but no information was available on casualties, an official said.
The 500-metre (1,640-ft) Tianzhuangtai bridge in Panjin, in north-eastern Liaoning Province, collapsed at 7:02 am (2302 GMT on Wednesday), the Xinhua news agency said.
"According to local sources, at least three vehicles were seen to be thrown into the river," Xinhua said. "Two people returned alive by swimming to the shore."
The bridge connects Panjin and Yingkou.
"There is no information about casualties," Xinhua said. Rescue efforts were being hampered by a rising tide at the site near an estuary, Xinhua said.
Most of the vehicles were trucks, said an official with the Panjin city government.
"There were no buses on the bridge when it collapsed, but some cargo trucks," the official told.