Chinese authorities announced that heavy rains over the course of a week across the country have led to sudden floods in the northern and southwestern regions, resulting in a new death toll of 20 people and dozens missing. The official Xinhua News Agency reported that a bridge over a river in Shaanxi Province (northwest) collapsed due to the floods, causing several vehicles, along with their occupants, to plunge into the river, resulting in at least 12 fatalities and 30 missing. According to Xinhua, initial investigations indicated that 17 cars and eight trucks fell into the river, suggesting that the death toll may rise further. Footage broadcast by state television showed a section of the bridge submerged in the river with water flowing over it.
Xinhua reported that President Xi Jinping has ordered "all rescue and relief efforts" to locate the missing. In Sichuan Province (southwest), heavy rains on Saturday resulted in at least eight deaths and 30 missing individuals. Xinhua noted that the sudden floods were caused by a violent thunderstorm that struck the town of Yan overnight, leading to the recovery of eight bodies by Saturday evening, while four people were rescued without serious injuries.
