Five people were killed and 24 others were injured after a suspension bridge cable snapped, sending them plunging into a rocky riverbank in northwest China.

The tourists were standing on the Jiangjun Bridge overlooking the surging water when one of its cables snapped in the Xinjiang region on Wednesday.

Twenty-nine people fell and struck the large stones below.

Footage shows the bridge deck tilted to one side as several people lay on the rocky ground. A girl was seen wincing in pain while trying to stand as panicked screams were heard.

Other tourists still on the bridge clung onto the remaining handrail made of cables as they made their way across. A helicopter later arrived to rush the injured to a hospital.

State-run news agency Xinhua said the accident occurred in the Xiata Tourism Resort at around 6:18 pm.

Authorities said five people were killed, 22 suffered minor injuries, and two were seriously injured. None of the wounded were in life-threatening condition.

The tourist spot has since been closed.

China's Ministry of Emergency Management said a working group has been established to investigate the accident.

The Jiangjun Bridge was involved in a similar case last year, when a cable snapped and caused the deck to tilt. No one was hurt in that incident.