Photo taken on July 25, 2009 shows the collapsed Chediguan Bridge which is part of the No. 213 national highway, a major traffic line linking Wenchuan County to other areas, in southwest China's Sichuan Province.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    CHENGDU, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers found two more bodies in the debris of a bridge smashed by fallen rocks early Saturday in southwest China's Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, raising the death toll to six, authorities said Saturday afternoon.

    Five of the dead had been identified, said the Wenchuan County Civil Affairs Bureau.

    Twelve injured people, five seriously, were being treated in Wenchuan County People's Hospital.

    Vehicles plunged into the Minjiang River when huge rocks washed off by continuous heavy rains from a nearby mountain hit and broke a bridge pier at about 5 a. m., destroying the Chediguan Bridge which they were riding on, said an official with the information center of Wenchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture.

    More than 100 meters of the 300-meter-long bridge collapsed, the official said.

    At least seven vehicles were found destroyed, including six trucks and one minibus, said the official.

    Rescuers said they were not sure how many vehicles had plunged into the river, but added casualties might still rise if more vehicles were found in the river.

    The Chediguan Bridge is called the lifeline for the reconstruction of Wenchuan, epicenter of last year's devastating earthquake which left about 87,000 people dead or missing.

    The bridge is part of the No. 213 national highway, a major traffic line linking Wenchuan with other areas. The highway, which plays a key role in restoring local tourism and production, was interrupted. More than 10,000 vehicles pass the bridge every day, which reopened to traffic in May.  

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