Surveillance camera
A screenshot from a video showing a partially collapsed bridge in northern China’s Shanxi province on Saturday.
CNN
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At least 12 people have been killed and 31 are missing after a bridge partially collapsed in northern China’s Shanxi province, state television (CCTV) reported.
Recent rains and sudden flooding caused part of a bridge in Shangluo city’s Tuoshui county to collapse on Friday night, authorities said.
As of 12pm local time (12am Eastern Time) on Saturday, 17 cars and eight trucks had fallen into the river, and search and rescue efforts were ongoing, state media said.
China’s national fire and rescue authority said on Saturday it had dispatched a rescue team of about 900 people, 90 vehicles, 20 boats and 41 drones, according to Reuters.
One person was rescued, CCTV showed.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an all-out rescue effort on Saturday, saying China was at a critical moment in tackling the floods and urged local governments to act, Reuters reported, citing local media.
Parts of China are suffering devastating floods just weeks after a lack of rainfall and extreme heat triggered drought.
Floods forced more than 100,000 people to evacuate their homes across neighboring Henan province, state media said.
In southwest China’s Sichuan province, flash floods hit a village in Hanyuan county early on Saturday, leaving more than 30 people missing, China Central Television (CCTV) reported, citing local emergency management authorities.
Officials said the sudden flooding occurred at around 2:30 a.m. local time while many people were asleep, causing damage to homes, roads and bridges.
