dpa
Beijing
At least 12 people died after a motorway bridge collapsed in north-western China on Friday, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday.
The bridge in the city of Shangluo, in the Shaanxi province, collapsed on Friday evening following torrential rain.
Seven vehicles had so far been recovered from a river they fell into as a result of the bridge collapse, with rescue operations still under way. An overall 31 people are considered missing.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang have ordered extensive rescue operations, according to state media. More than 800 rescue workers have reportedly been deployed to the scene of the accident. According to Xinhua, officials sent 736 firefighters, 18 boats and 32 drones to the scene.
China regularly experiences torrential rainfall, especially during the summer months.
In May, at least 48 people died after a section of a motorway collapsed in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong following heavy rain.
The region was also affected by heavy rain during the disaster.
