TAIPEI, Taiwan — Chinese authorities said at least 11 people were dead and 30 missing after a highway bridge partially collapsed in the country's northwest following severe storms and flooding. A similar number of people are missing after dozens of homes were destroyed by storms in the Southwest.
The official Xinhua News Agency said the bridge collapsed in Shaanxi province around 8:40 pm on Friday and five vehicles that fell from the bridge had been fished out. A photo published by Xinhua News Agency showed part of the bridge breaking off and plunging at an almost 90-degree angle into the turbulent brown waters below.
It is said that rescue operations in Zhashui County of the province were still ongoing on Saturday, with about 20 vehicles and 30 people still missing.
In southwestern Sichuan province, an estimated 30 people are missing and about 40 houses have been destroyed by floods and storms, Xinhua News Agency reported. According to reports, roads, bridges and communication networks in Hanyuan County, the worst-hit area, have been damaged or paralyzed, and rescue teams have been working since dawn to restore communication and transportation connections.
As its economy has boomed in recent decades, China has built a vast network of highways, high-speed rail and airports, much of which has helped fuel further growth.
However, a sharp decline in economic growth, poor infrastructure, weak safety regulations and industries cutting corners to save money have led to endless fatal accidents.
China's western and southwestern provinces are mountainous and have fast-flowing rivers, making them particularly prone to floods and landslides. Mining, tourism and growing urbanization have also disrupted millennia-old precarious balances with the natural environment.
Shaanxi is best known as one of the fulcrums of Chinese civilization. The first emperor Qin Shihuang was born here. He left the famous Terracotta Warriors as his legacy on the outskirts of the capital Xi'an. They are part of a huge complex of mausoleums that attract A large number of tourists come here every year.
