At least 11 people have been killed and dozens more are missing after a bridge partially collapsed in northwest China.
Several vehicles plunged into the water below when the bridge in Shangluo city, Shaanxi province crumbled at around 8.40pm Friday night, according to state media.
It comes after storms and heavy flooding in the area.
Rescue operations are underway, and so far five vehicles have been recovered., while 30 people and 20 cars remain missing.
A photo shows a section of the bridge snapped and folded down at an almost 90-degree angle into the rushing brown river.
Over the last few decades, as China enjoyed an economic boom, a massive network of highways, high-speed railways and airports have been built.
But poor-quality infrastructure and safety supervision, a recent economic decline and a desire to save money by cutting corners has lead to a series of deadly accidents.
In 2021, for example, four people died and eight were injured in Ezhou, in the central province of Hubei after part of a flyover collapsed.
Three lorries on the flyover at the time fell onto the road below, while a car below was crushed.
China’s western and southwestern provinces are particularly prone to flooding and landslides due to their mountainous landscapes and the powerful rivers that run through them.
Mining, tourism and rising urbanisation have also disturbed a precarious balance with the natural environment that had been sustained over thousands of years.
Speaking after the incident, China president Xi Jinping said the country is in a critical period for flood control and local governments must take responsibility and enhance monitoring and early warning
The national fire and rescue authority said it had dispatched a rescue team to the site that included 859 people, 90 vehicles, 20 boats and 41 drones.
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