A highway bridge in China‘s Shaanxi Province collapsed during a recent storm, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people. This incident has raised concerns among locals about the safety of the country’s infrastructure. The collapse occurred on July 19 when a severe rainstorm hit Zhashui county, causing a flash flood and rapid rise in river water levels. At approximately 8:40 p.m., a section of the bridge collapsed and bent down at nearly a 90-degree angle into the rushing brown water.
According to Shaanxi provincial authorities, around 25 vehicles and 44 individuals fell into the river from the crumbled bridge. This estimation was based on data from the highway toll system, video surveillance, and phone verifications. As of July 20, seven vehicles had been recovered from the water while another 18 remained missing. The death toll rose to 15 by July 21.
It is challenging to determine the true extent of this incident due to Chinese authorities’ history of underreporting and concealing information related to such incidents. The China Meteorological Administration has issued warnings about heavy rains and potential geological disasters in Shaanxi Province for upcoming days.
This recent collapse has drawn attention to an alarming issue regarding China’s infrastructure—its precarious condition. In May, another highway collapse occurred in Guangdong province, resulting in at least 36 deaths and injuring dozens more.
A resident who spoke with The Epoch Times expressed concern over his parents’ safety as their car fell off this collapsed bridge during heavy flooding. He questioned its quality since there had been no previous flooding incidents for several years prior.
Another resident shared his experience with Beijing Youth Daily, stating that he managed to escape his vehicle through an open window before it plunged into the river. He was then rescued by villagers.
On July 19, there were reports of power outages as well as disruptions in water supply and communication services within Zhashui county. These issues hindered residents from promptly reporting the incident to local authorities.
The affected section of highway stretches approximately 49 miles from Shanyang county to Zhashui county and consists mainly of bridges and tunnels accounting for about two-thirds (61.6 percent) of its total length. The construction project began in October 2015 with an investment budget amounting to around $1 billion (7.45 billion yuan). It opened for traffic on December 19,2018.
