Tragic Bridge Collapse in Northwest China: 11 Dead, Many Missing

At least eleven people died and over thirty are missing after a highway bridge partially collapsed in Shaanxi province, northwest China. The collapse, caused by flash floods, led to ongoing rescue operations. The region has been facing severe weather, with heavy rains resulting in significant damage.

At least eleven people lost their lives when a highway bridge partially collapsed in northwest China's Shaanxi province on Saturday morning, according to a report from Xinhua, citing local authorities. The bridge, situated in Zhashui County in Shangluo City, came down at around 8:40 pm on Friday due to sudden downpour and flash floods, the provincial publicity department stated.

By 10 am today, rescue teams had recovered five vehicles that had fallen into the river, Xinhua reported. Rescue operations are ongoing.

More than 30 people were reported missing after the bridge collapse, according to Channel News Asia (CNA), which cited state television. Heavy rains have been affecting large portions of northern and central China since Tuesday, causing flooding and significant damage.

Earlier on Friday, state media reported that at least five people died and eight were missing following floods and mudslides triggered by heavy rains in Shaanxi's Baoji city. China is experiencing a summer of extreme weather, with regions in the east and south facing heavy rains while much of the north has suffered from successive heat waves, CNA reported.

Earlier this month, nearly a quarter of a million people were evacuated in eastern China as torrential rainstorms lashed parts of the country, causing the Yangtze and other rivers to swell, state media reported. Xinhua news agency mentioned that the storms had affected 991,000 residents in Anhui province and forced the evacuation of 242,000 people.

(With inputs from agencies.)