Rescuers on Friday recovered another six bodies from the debris of the collapsed bridge in central China's Hunan Province, bringing the death toll to 47.

Rescuers said the search for the victims were made easier after demolition experts detonated explosives at 2:28 a.m. to demolish the three collapsed concrete piers, where more bodies are believed to be buried.

They say the chances of anyone surviving in the debris are minimal.

The huge piers were too heavy to be moved and had hindered the search.

Before the explosion, experts and rescuers had searched the rubble with detection equipment, but found no signs of life.

The 328-meter-long, 42-meter-high bridge over the Tuojiang River in Fenghuang County in western Hunan Province, collapsed on Monday afternoon when an estimated 123 workers were dismantling steel scaffolding.

Construction began in March 2004 and the bridge was scheduled to open to traffic at the end of the month.

An investigation into the causes of the accident is still underway.

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2007)