At least 12 individuals have died and 31 others are missing for following a partial collapse of a bridge in Zhashui County, Shangluo City, in northern China’s Shanxi province, as reported by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
The bridge gave way on Friday evening after recent heavy rains and flash flooding.
By 12 a.m. local time (midnight) on Saturday, search and rescue operations were still underway, with 17 cars and 8 trucks having fallen into the river, according to state media.
China’s national fire and rescue authority reported on Saturday that a team of nearly 900 personnel, supported by 90 vehicles, 20 boats, and 41 drones, had been deployed to the scene.
CCTV noted that only one person had been rescued so far.
President Xi Jinping has called for comprehensive rescue operations and emphasised that the country is facing a crucial period for flood management. He has urged local governments to take immediate action, according to local media.
China has been dealing with severe flooding in various regions, just weeks after experiencing drought conditions due to low rainfall and extreme heat.
In the neighbouring Henan province, over 100,000 people have been evacuated from their homes due to the flooding, state media reports.
In Sichuan province, located in the southwest, more than 30 individuals are missing following flash floods that struck a village in Hanyuan County early on Saturday, as reported by CCTV and local emergency management authorities.
The sudden floods occurred around 2:30 a.m. local time, causing significant damage to homes, roads, and bridges while many people were still asleep.
