12 dead, over 60 injured after bridge collapses in northern China

Heavy rains in northern China have caused a bridge to collapse, killing at least 12 people and leaving more than 30 missing, according to the country's state media.

According to the provincial public relations department, the bridge over a river in Shangluo, Shaanxi province collapsed at about 8.40 pm on July 19 due to a sudden downpour and flash floods.

The Xinhua agency said nearly 20 vehicles and more than 30 people remain missing. The bodies of the deceased were found inside five vehicles that had been recovered from the water, the state broadcaster said.

Rescue efforts are still underway, with teams having recovered several vehicles that fell into the river. Officials have deployed 736 firefighters, 18 boats, and 32 drones to the site, according to local media reports.

The images and video that have emerged show a partially submerged section of the bridge with the river rushing over it.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged an “all out” effort to find those still missing. Torrential rains have also caused flooding and mudslides in another part of the province, where at least five people have been killed.

Heavy rains have battered large parts of northern and central China since July 17 causing flooding and significant damage.

Reportedly, at least five people died and eight were missing after the rains sparked flooding and mudslides in Shaanxi's Baoji city.

In May this year, a highway in southern China collapsed after days of rain, leaving 48 dead. Earlier in July, a tornado passed through a town in eastern China killing one, injuring 79 and causing significant damage. These extreme weather events are majorly caused due to the climate crisis.