On July 19th, a bridge collapse incident occurred on a highway in Zhashui, Shaanxi Province, China, with the death toll rising to 15 as of 7 p.m. on July 21st. Around 8:40 p.m. on the 19th, a sudden rainstorm and flash flood hit the Shanyang direction of the Danning Expressway Water Yang section at kilometer 46+200 in Zhashui County, Shangluo City, Shaanxi. This led to the partial collapse of the No. 2 bridge at Yanping Village, causing a line of vehicles to plunge into the swift river below the gap in the bridge.
According to the information released by the relevant authorities of Shangluo City, Shaanxi on the evening of the 19th, it is preliminarily estimated that 17 cars and 8 trucks fell into the river, with 43 people on board reported missing. As of 7 p.m. on the 21st, according to the state media Xinhua News Agency, the number of confirmed fatalities has risen to 15. So far, among the 7 vehicles and 1 person rescued from the river, 18 vehicles and 27 individuals remain unaccounted for.
Due to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) tendency to cover up disaster situations, the actual circumstances may be more severe than reported. Public records indicate that the collapsed highway bridge was opened to traffic in December 2018, less than six years ago. Official statements attributing the collapse to the heavy rainfall have been met with criticism from netizens, with many questioning the tendency to blame natural elements like rain for such incidents.
Some internet users have expressed concerns about the quality of construction materials used in infrastructure projects over time, suggesting that “the substandard materials from the past are gradually causing issues now.” The incident has raised alarms about the overall infrastructure safety and the accountability of authorities in building and maintaining critical transportation infrastructure. The tragic event has deeply affected the local community and underscores the importance of thorough investigations into the causes of such disasters to prevent similar incidents in the future.