At least 20 people have died and dozens more are missing following severe floods and the collapse of a bridge in China, AFP reports. Torrential rains hit large areas of northern and central China on Tuesday, causing widespread flooding and significant damage.
On Friday evening, a highway bridge over a river in the city of Shangluo, Shaanxi province, collapsed due to “heavy rainfall followed by flooding,” according to the official Xinhua news agency. So far, 12 deaths have been confirmed, and over 30 people are still missing.
A powerful storm on Saturday also caused a sudden rise in water levels in Ya’an, a city in the southwestern mountainous province of Sichuan, with more than 30 people initially reported missing. Four of them have been rescued, and the bodies of eight others have been found.
National television broadcasted images of the damaged bridge in Shaanxi province: a three-lane section is now in the river waters, while the rest of the structure appears intact. The river’s strong current complicates rescue efforts. Preliminary investigations report that 17 cars and eight trucks fell into the river, raising fears of further casualties, Xinhua stated.
In May, a highway collapse following heavy rains in southern China resulted in 48 fatalities.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for “comprehensive efforts” in rescue and assistance to protect the lives and property of those affected and to support the families of the victims, according to CCTV.
