A bridge collapse in northern China has resulted in the death of 12 people and left more than 30 others missing, according to state media.
Heavy rains in northern and central China recently caused severe flooding and damage.
The bridge in Shaanxi province fell on Friday night due to intense rainfall and flash floods, Xinhua news agency reported.
All 12 victims were found inside five vehicles recovered from the river below the bridge. At least 31 people are still missing, and initial reports indicate that 17 cars and eight trucks fell into the river.
State television showed images of part of the bridge submerged with the river flowing over it.
A witness named Meng reported that other drivers warned him to stop as a truck in front of him fell into the water.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for urgent rescue efforts to locate those missing.
In Sichuan province, more than 30 people are missing after a thunderstorm caused flash flooding in Ya’an.
Earlier, flooding and mudslides in Shaanxi’s Baoji city resulted in five deaths and eight people missing.
Other regions, including Gansu and Henan, have also been affected by heavy rains. In Henan’s Nanyang city, a year’s worth of rain fell within a few days.
Sichuan province also experienced landslides that killed two people and left seven missing.
China is experiencing severe weather this summer, with heavy rains in the east and south and heatwaves in the north.
Climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, is making such extreme weather events more frequent and severe.
Earlier this year, a highway collapse in southern China killed 48 people, and a tornado in eastern China caused one death and 79 injuries.
AFP
