Global Courant
BEIJING — A railway bridge in Chongqing partially collapsed Tuesday morning, local authorities reported, after rain flooded the southwestern Chinese municipality for several days, fueling concerns that more rain-driven disasters will hit the country.
Over the past month, China has experienced heavy rainfall, flash floods and deadly mudslides, prompting government officials to issue stricter warnings and advisories.
Steady downpours in Chongqing over several days resulted in the strongest precipitation since the start of the rainy season, state media reported. The city of 30 million people is one of the most populous in China.
The rainy season in China runs from May to September 2023.
Between 8 a.m. on June 29 and 8 a.m. on July 3, Chongqing had recorded sustained rain of about 219mm in the city’s Beibei district, CCTV news reported, citing the municipality’s Water Resources Bureau.
The Sibuhe Railway Bridge in Chongqing partially collapsed after being damaged by floodwaters, according to the local National Railway Administration office.
Rail traffic was temporarily halted or rearranged.
Images posted on social media showed collapsing houses and scenes of lifeboats evacuating people amid heavy rains in Chongqing.
Meanwhile, local media reported that a car carrying five people was washed away by flooding near a bridge in Queshan County in Henan province on Monday night. One person was saved.
Chinese meteorological authorities had warned from 8 p.m. Monday to 8 p.m. Tuesday of risks of rain-induced geological disasters in parts of Henan, Hubei, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan and Shaanxi.
Residents have been advised to take precautions, especially in areas with hidden dangers, Xinhua said. REUTERS
