A devastating bridge collapse in northern China, triggered by intense rainfall, has resulted in the loss of 12 lives and left over 30 individuals unaccounted for, according to state media reports on Saturday.
A bridge in Shaanxi province’s Shangluo city collapsed under the pressure of a sudden and intense downpour on Friday night, triggering flash floods, as reported by Xinhua.
The state news agency reported that 12 people lost their lives in the tragic incident, recovering their bodies from five vehicles that had fallen into the river beneath the bridge.
At least 31 people remained missing, and initial investigations indicated that 17 cars and eight trucks had fallen into the river.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged “all-out rescue and relief efforts” to find those still missing, Xinhua said.
Relentless rains in recent days have severely impacted the region, causing widespread flooding and destruction across northern and central China.
State television broadcast footage of the devastating scene, showing a portion of the bridge partially submerged in the raging river.
According to local media, an eyewitness described the terrifying moment, recounting how other drivers frantically urged him to stop his vehicle, shouting at him to ‘brake and stop the car’ as he attempted to approach the bridge.
The witness said: “A truck in front of me didn’t stop” and fell into the water.”
A severe thunderstorm in Sichuan province’s Ya’an town triggered flash flooding on Saturday, leaving over 30 people unaccounted for, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.
Meanwhile, in Shaanxi province, the recent rains caused widespread flooding and mudslides in Baoji city, resulting in at least five fatalities and eight missing persons, according to state media reports on Friday.
State television aired footage of neighbourhoods inundated with muddy floodwaters, showing excavators and residents working together to clear the debris.
The heavy rainfall also affected neighbouring provinces, including Gansu, a semi-desert region, and Henan in central China, which experienced significant flooding this week.
According to CCTV, Nanyang city in Henan province experienced a remarkable deluge, receiving a year’s worth of rainfall in just a few days at the start of the week.
Meanwhile, in Sichuan province, Xinhua reported that landslides triggered by heavy rain resulted in two fatalities and seven missing persons on Friday.
China is grappling with a summer of intense weather extremes as heavy rainfall pounds the eastern and southern regions, while the northern areas suffer through successive heatwaves.
Scientists claim that greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change, are amplifying the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like these.
Recent examples in China include the collapse of a highway in the south last May, resulting in 48 fatalities after prolonged rainfall, and a tornado that struck a town in the east this month, causing one death, 79 injuries, and significant destruction.
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