The death toll from the bridge collapse in central China's Hunan Province rose to 41 on Thursday as rescuers prepared to blast the rubble to make it easier to clear.

Up to 80 holes are to be dug in the collapsed piers for explosives.

Experts believe the chances of finding survivors are slim after three days since its collapse.

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

Sixty-four workers escaped or were pulled from the debris and rescuers are still searching for around two dozen people thought to be buried.

The four-arch bridge was to link Fenghuang County, a popular tourist spot, with Daxing Airport in Tongren City, neighboring Guizhou Province.

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

A nine-member team of experts has arrived at the site to take samples from the rubble to determine whether the construction had quality problems.

Meanwhile, an investigation team under the State Council, headed by Li Yizhong, director of the State Administration of Work Safety, has been formed with officials from the communications, construction, health and supervision ministries.

Li ordered a thorough investigation and strict punishment of those responsible for the tragedy.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2007)