Six workers were confirmed dead in the collapse of an arch bridge under construction on Wednesday in Sanming, a city in east China's Fujian Province.

The police has detained six people who are held responsible for the construction, according to Tang Yi, director of the office with Minglie District Government.

A special investigative group, consisting of workers from six departments including Fujian Provincial Bureau of Work Safety and the provincial construction bureau, has been formed to investigate the cause of the accident.

The arch bridge being built spanning a 30-meter-deep valley in Minglie District suddenly fell apart around 11:45 AM Wednesday, burying six workers who were working at the site at the time.

Over 200 officers of fire control, public security and armed police were organized to give help in the rescue operation after the collapse of the bridge.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2005)