China's Xi urges all-out rescue efforts after highway bridge collapse

President Xi Jinping urged all-out rescue efforts after a highway bridge collapse on Friday in Shaanxi province in China's northwest killed 11 people, state media reported on Saturday.

The incident occurred at 8:40 p.m. (4:40 p.m. UAE time) on Friday in Shangluo City when a highway bridge collapsed due to a flash flood, causing some vehicles to fall into the river.

As of 10 a.m. on Saturday, five vehicles were confirmed to have fallen into the water, and 30 people were reported missing, state media said.

Xi said China is in a critical period for flood control, and local governments must take responsibility for enhancing monitoring and early warning.

China's national fire and rescue authority said on Saturday that it had dispatched a rescue team to the site, which included 859 people, 90 vehicles, 20 boats, and 41 drones.