Torrential Rains Cause Deadly Bridge Collapse in Northern China
At least 11 people have died and more than 30 are missing after a bridge in Shangluo, Shaanxi province, collapsed due to torrential rain and flash floods on Friday night. The bridge buckled at around 8:40 PM, plunging nearly 20 vehicles and their occupants into the river below, according to state media reports.
Rescue teams have so far recovered five vehicles with 11 bodies inside. Efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining missing persons, with President Xi Jinping calling for “all-out efforts” in the search and rescue operations.
The collapse occurred amid severe weather conditions that have battered northern and central China since Tuesday, causing widespread flooding and significant damage. Shaanxi province has been particularly hard-hit, with additional reports of five deaths and eight missing due to flooding and mudslides in Baoji city.
Other regions, including Gansu, Henan, and Sichuan provinces, have also experienced heavy rainfall, landslides, and significant infrastructure damage. Henan’s Nanyang city recorded the equivalent of a year’s worth of rain in just a few days, while Sichuan reported two fatalities and seven missing due to landslides.
This summer, China has faced extreme weather events, with the east and south experiencing heavy rains and the north suffering from successive heatwaves. The climate crisis is exacerbating these weather patterns, making such extreme events more frequent and intense.
In May, another tragic incident occurred when a highway in southern China collapsed after days of rain, killing 48 people. Earlier this month, a tornado in eastern China resulted in one death, 79 injuries, and widespread damage.
