Eleven people have died and more than 30 are missing after a bridge in northern China’s Shaanxi province collapsed due to torrential rains, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
The incident occurred at around 8:40 pm on Friday when the bridge over a river in Shangluo gave way amid a sudden downpour and flash floods.
Provincial public relations confirmed that nearly 20 vehicles and over 30 people were unaccounted for after the bridge fell into the river below. The bodies of all 11 confirmed victims were found in five vehicles recovered from the water.
Images broadcast on state TV showed a section of the bridge partially submerged with water rushing over it. The collapse is part of a series of extreme weather events hitting northern and central China since Tuesday, causing extensive flooding and damage.
In Shaanxi’s Baoji city, heavy rains have caused flooding and mudslides, resulting in at least five deaths and eight people missing. Footage showed neighborhoods submerged in muddy water, with residents and excavators working to clear the debris.
Other regions, such as the semi-desert province of Gansu and Henan in central China, have also been affected by heavy rains. Nanyang city in Henan experienced rainfall equivalent to a year’s worth at the beginning of the week.
China has been facing a summer of extreme weather, including heavy rains in the east and south and intense heat waves in the north. Climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, is contributing to the increased frequency and severity of such extreme weather events.
In May, another highway in southern China collapsed after days of rain, resulting in 48 deaths. Earlier this month, a tornado struck a town in eastern China, killing one person, injuring 79, and causing significant damage.