At least eleven people died and more than 30 remain missing as of Saturday morning following the partial collapse of a highway bridge in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The bridge, located in Zhashui County in Shangluo City, collapsed at approximately 8:40 PM on Friday due to a sudden downpour and flash floods, according to the provincial publicity department, state-run China Global Television Network reported.
Rescue operations have been underway since Saturday morning, according to Xinhua news agency. By 10 AM, rescue teams had recovered five vehicles that had fallen into the river. Rescue operations are underway.
All 11 confirmed victims were found inside five vehicles that had so far been recovered from the water, the broadcaster said.
Images on state television CCTV showed a partially submerged section of the bridge with the river rushing over it.
Large portions of northern and central China have been battered since Tuesday by rains that have caused flooding and significant damage.
On Friday, state media reported at least five people dead and eight missing after the rains sparked flooding and mudslides in Shaanxi's Baoji city.
China has been experiencing heavy and widespread rainfall since the start of the rainy season, which runs from May to September. The rainfall has resulted in at least 20 floods in major rivers across the country, with 31 rivers surpassing their flood warning levels, according to a report by The Guardian.
In May, a highway in southern China collapsed after days of rain, leaving 48 dead. Earlier this month, a tornado passed through a town in eastern China killing one, injuring 79 and causing significant damage.