BEIJING — A railway bridge under construction in China collapsed early Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 workers and leaving four others unaccounted for. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. during a tensioning operation when a steel cable snapped, according to state media reports.

The bridge, located in Qinghai province in northwest China, spans 1.6 kilometers (approximately 1 mile) and features a deck that is 55 meters (180 feet) above the Yellow River. Aerial images released by state media show a significant section missing from the bridge's curved aquamarine arch, with part of the deck hanging precariously over the river.

At the time of the collapse, 16 workers were on the bridge. Rescue efforts are currently underway, utilizing boats, a helicopter, and robotic equipment to search for the missing individuals. The situation has drawn attention to safety practices in construction projects across the region.