A tragic incident occurred in northern China due to heavy rains, resulting in a bridge collapse that claimed the lives of 12 individuals and left over 30 people missing, as reported by state media on Saturday.
Recent days have seen severe rainfall in northern and central China, leading to floods and substantial destruction.
The bridge in Shaanxi province in the northwest collapsed on Friday night, attributed to a sudden downpour and flash floods, according to Xinhua, the state news agency.
All 12 victims in Shangluo city were found inside five vehicles that were recovered from the river below the collapsed bridge, Xinhua mentioned.
There are still 31 people missing, and initial investigations revealed that 17 cars and eight trucks fell into the river, added the report.
Television images displayed a section of the bridge submerged in water with the river flowing over it.
An eyewitness recounted how drivers warned him to stop as they saw a truck in front of him plunge into the water.
President Xi Jinping of China has called for extensive rescue and relief operations to locate the missing individuals, stated Xinhua.
In Ya’an town in Sichuan province, over 30 people were reported missing after a fierce thunderstorm caused flash flooding, as per CCTV, the state broadcaster.
Moreover, in Baoji city in Shaanxi, at least five people were reported dead and eight missing due to floods and mudslides induced by the heavy rains, as reported on Friday.
The province of Gansu and Henan in central China experienced heavy downpours this week, with Nanyang city in Henan witnessing a year’s worth of rainfall in just a few days, as per CCTV.
In another tragic incident, two individuals lost their lives and seven were reported missing in Sichuan due to landslides caused by heavy rainfall, mentioned Xinhua.
China has been facing extreme weather conditions this summer, with heavy rains in the east and south contrasted by heatwaves in the north.
Scientists attribute the increase in extreme weather events to climate change exacerbated by greenhouse gas emissions.
In recent months, China has witnessed multiple disasters, including a highway collapse and tornado activity resulting in casualties and damage.
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