BEIJING: Eleven people were killed when a bridge in northern China collapsed amid torrential rains, state news agency Xinhua reported Saturday (Jul 20).
The bridge in Shaanxi province’s Shangluo collapsed at around 8.40pm on Friday “due to a sudden downpour and flash floods”, Xinhua said, citing the provincial public relations department.
Rescue operations were underway Saturday morning, according to Xinhua, with five vehicles so far recovered from the water.
Images on state television CCTV showed a partially submerged section of the bridge with the river rushing over it.
More than 30 people were also missing, according to state TV.
Large portions of northern and central China have been battered since Tuesday by rains that have caused flooding and significant damage.
On Friday, state media reported at least five people dead and eight missing after the rains sparked flooding and mudslides in Shaanxi’s Baoji city.
China is enduring a summer of extreme weather, with heavy rains across the east and south coming as much of the north has sweltered in successive heat waves.
