2024-07-20 07:26:56
Eleven people died and more than 30 are missing after a portion of a bridge collapsed in northern China’s Shaanxi province due to flash floods following heavy rainfall on Saturday, AP reported. As the bridge collapsed in Shangluo, several people and vehicles were swept away after falling into the swollen river underneath.
The public relations department said the bridge collapsed “due to a sudden downpour and flash floods”, state news agency Xinhua reported.
The death toll is likely to rise as more than 30 people are missing. The 11 victims were found inside five vehicles that were pulled out of the water.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has directed “all-out efforts” by officials to find those still missing.
The incident comes weeks after a highway in southern China collapsed after days of rain in May, leaving 48 dead.
Northern and central China have been reeling under heavy rainfall since Tuesday, leading to flooding in several areas. Mudslides in Shaanxi’s Baoji city on Friday killed at least five people, while eight are missing.
Visuals on social media showed neighbourhoods completely flooded by muddy water and vehicles getting swept away by strong floodwaters.
In southwestern Sichuan province, two people died and seven others were missing after heavy rain triggered landslides on Friday. Henan’s Nanyang city received showers equivalent of a year’s worth of rain, AP reported.
Shaanxi bridge collapse, china news, china bridge collapse, china bridge, china rain, china floods, china flash floods
Source link
