Bridge collapses in China – at least 11 people dead and dozens missing
At least 11 people have been killed and dozens more are missing after a highway bridge collapsed in northwest China, authorities have said.
China’s President Xi Jinping has ordered an all-out rescue effort following the disaster in Shaanxi province, which happened around 8.40pm local time on Friday and followed heavy storms and flooding.
Rescue operations were under way on Saturday in the province’s Zhashui county, with some 20 cars and 30 people still missing, Xinhua News Agency said.
Five vehicles that fell off the bridge have been recovered, according to the state media outlet,
The agency released a photo showing a section of the bridge had snapped and fallen at an almost 90-degree angle into the rushing water below.
China’s national fire and rescue authority said it had sent a rescue team to the site, including more than 850 emergency workers, 90 vehicles, 20 boats and 41 drones.
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Beijing embarked on a huge economic project of building a sprawling network of highways, high-speed railways and airports over the last few decades.
But a dramatic decline in economic expansion, poor-quality infrastructure and safety supervision, as well as a desire to cut corners by industries looking to save money, have led to several deadly industrial accidents.
China’s western and southwestern provinces feature mountainous landscapes and powerful rivers, making them particularly prone to flooding.