At least 11 people were killed as a result of the collapse of part of a bridge in northern China, and rescue teams were working on Saturday to search for about 30 missing people, according to official media reports.
The Chinese news agency, Xinhua, reported today, Saturday, that the highway bridge crossing over the river collapsed yesterday, Friday, at about 20:40 “due to heavy rains and flash floods in Shanglu, Shaanxi Province, resulting in 11 deaths.”
State television CCTV said that more than 30 people were missing as a result of the disaster, according to what Agence France-Presse reported.
State television broadcast scenes of the bridge, in Shanglu, about 900 kilometers southwest of Beijing, showing part of it falling into the river waters where a strong current appears, while its structure in the other direction of travel is still standing.
The television reported that relief teams brought 5 vehicles to the surface of the river, inside which the 11 dead were found.
Since Tuesday, vast areas of northern and central China have been exposed to heavy rains, causing floods and severe material damage.
In Shaanxi Province itself, heavy rains killed 5 people and left 8 others missing in Baoji, which has a population of about 3.2 million people, according to a tally reported by Xinhua on Friday.
China is suffering from harsh climatic conditions this summer, with temperatures recording record levels in some places, especially in the north of the country, while the south is witnessing rain and floods.
Climate change, which according to scientists is exacerbated by greenhouse gas emissions, is making this type of extreme weather more frequent and severe.
In May, 48 people were killed when a highway collapsed in southern China after heavy rains.
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