Highway bridge collapsed in no time in northwest China's Shaanxi, 11 people died tragically

At least 11 people were killed when a highway bridge partially collapsed in northwest China's Shaanxi province on Saturday morning, according to Xinhua citing local officials.

The provincial publicity department said the bridge, which was in Zhasui county of Shangluo city, collapsed at around 8:40 pm Friday due to sudden heavy rains and flash floods. By then, rescue teams had retrieved five vehicles fallen into the river according to Xinhua's report by 10 am Saturday.

Over 30 people are missing after the bridge collapsed. Heavy rains have caused widespread flooding and damaged large parts of northern and central China since Tuesday. Earlier on Friday, state media said at least five people were killed and eight missing after heavy rains triggered floods and landslides in Baoji City in Shaanxi.

Reportedly, China is experiencing scorching heat, with heavy rains lashing the east and south while much of the north is lashed by persistent heat waves, CNA reported. Earlier this month, nearly a quarter of a million people were evacuated in eastern China as heavy rains lashed parts of the country and the Yangtze and other rivers swelled, state media reported. According to Xinhua, the storm affected 991,000 residents in Anhui province and 242,000 people were forced to evacuate.