BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged maximum rescue and relief efforts to protect lives and property after a highway bridge collapsed in northwest China’s Shaanxi province.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, issued the directive after the bridge, located in Shangluo City’s Zhashui District, collapsed at approximately 8:40 p.m. on Friday due to flash flooding caused by heavy rain. Eleven people were killed while more than 30 others were missing as of 10 a.m. Saturday.
The immediate priority is to carry out rescue operations, make every effort to search for the missing and minimize losses, Xi Jinping said in the instructions, also calling for efforts to help the families of those affected.
Xi stressed the importance of well-planned rescue and prevention of secondary disasters.
He emphasized that as the critical period of flood control measures is approaching, it is necessary for counties and relevant departments to be extremely cautious, fulfill their duties conscientiously, improve monitoring systems and early warning mechanisms, strengthen inspections and carefully implement various measures to be safety guaranteed. lives and property of people.
Xi urges all-out rescue, relief efforts after bridge collapses in northwest China
