President Xi Jinping has called for a vigorous rescue operation following the collapse of a highway bridge in Shaanxi province, China, on Friday.
The bridge gave way at 8:40 p.m. local time (1240 GMT) in Shangluo city, triggered by a flash flood that caused several vehicles to fall into the river below. The incident has resulted in the death of 11 individuals, with five vehicles confirmed to have plunged into the water and around 30 people reported missing as of 10 a.m. the following day.
Xi Jinping emphasized that China is currently in a critical period for managing flood risks. He urged local governments to take immediate action to improve monitoring and early warning systems to better handle such emergencies.
In response to the disaster, China’s national fire and rescue authority has mobilized a comprehensive rescue effort. A team of 859 personnel, equipped with 90 vehicles, 20 boats, and 41 drones, has been dispatched to the site. This extensive operation aims to locate and assist those affected by the collapse, highlighting the severity of the situation and the commitment to providing aid.
