(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-05-08 19:39

MACAO  -- A cargo vessel loaded with steel materials Thursday collided with a pier fender of the Macao-Taipa sea-spanning bridge, but no casualties were reported so far, according to Macao's maritime authorities.

The accident occurred at 2:00 p.m. local time (0600 GMT), and the Maritime Administration of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) has sealed the nearby navigation channel out of safety reasons, a spokeswoman of the Administration with surname of Ho told Xinhua through telephone.

Police sealed the bridge for around 20 minutes as the cargo vessel, the bow of which was severely damaged after the accident, was towed away from the site, according to the spokeswoman.

She also said that the cause of the collision was still under investigation, and the finding of which will be announced later.