(Yicai) Feb. 22 -- Five people have lost their lives after an empty container vessel struck a major bridge connecting Sanmin Island with Guangzhou’s Nansha district, breaking off part of the beam and causing cars to fall into the river.

The ship was en route to Nansha from Foshan’s Nanhai district when it struck a pier on the Lixinsha Bridge, which serves as a major thoroughfare for Sanmin Island’s 7,000 residents, at 5.30 a.m. Two cars tumbled into the water and another two cars and one electric motorcycle fell onto the ship.

Local rescue teams were quick to arrive at the scene in high-speed boats. Two individuals were rescued and one crew member was slightly injured. Five people had died as of 6 p.m.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation. But the shipping company was fined CNY30,000 (USD4,172) last month by Shenzhen maritime authorities for failing to take proper precautions when its container ship "Lianghui 688" entered or exited ports, and anchored or passed through certain key waterways, according to Tianyancha data.

Editor: Kim Taylor