Bridge collapse kills 11 people, over 30 still missing

SHANGLUO CITY, CHINA – A partial collapse of a highway bridge triggered by heavy rains in northwest China’s Shaanxi province has resulted in the death of 11 people. In addition to nearly a dozen deceased victims, over 30 have also been reported missing.

The bridge failure occurred on Friday night. The provincial officials reported that the collapse of the bridge was a result of a sudden downpour and flash flood.

Rescue operations have recovered several vehicles that fell into the river due to the collapse, with more recovery efforts underway. The confirmed fatalities were discovered in five cars dragged from the river. Approximately 20 more vehicles are believed to have fallen into the waters, as per state media.

The governed-backed Xinhua news agency shared video footage and images depicting sections of the collapsed bridge partially submerged with ferocious river waters swirling around it. A massive rescue effort has been mobilized, with 736 firefighters, 18 boats, and 32 drones dispatched to the scene.

Elsewhere, torrential rains caused flooding and mudslides in a different region of the province, leading to an additional five fatalities. Large sections of northern and central China have experienced weather-related devastations from Tuesday’s heavy rainfalls, triggering widespread flooding and major damage.