A tragic incident occurred in southwest China’s Sichuan province on Saturday, leaving two people dead and 12 others missing after a tunnel bridge collapsed due to a flash flood and mudslide. The collapse took place around 3:30 am on the Ya’an-Kangding expressway, specifically at the section connecting Kangding City and Luding County. The force of the collapse caused three vehicles carrying six individuals to plunge into a deep gorge in the mountainous terrain, according to local authorities who spoke to Xinhua news agency.
Adding to the tragedy, the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture’s publicity department reported that 12 people were also unaccounted for following the bridge collapse. Authorities immediately launched a search and rescue operation in the area. However, the disaster extended beyond the bridge collapse. A separate incident involving a “sudden mountain torrent and landslide” in Ridi village resulted in the deaths of at least two people on Friday night. The landslide destroyed homes in the village. While the situation is dire, two individuals have been rescued and are currently receiving treatment in a hospital.
In response to the disaster, the Ministry of Emergency Management has deployed a team of approximately 300 rescuers to the affected site. Their arrival provides hope for finding the missing and assisting those affected by the devastating events.
The recent events in Sichuan are unfortunately not isolated. China has experienced a surge in natural disasters this summer, many of which have been linked to extreme weather conditions. In May, a highway in southern China collapsed after enduring days of heavy rainfall, claiming the lives of 48 people.
These incidents highlight the growing threat posed by climate change, especially in a country like China, which holds the title of being the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Scientists emphasize that these greenhouse gases are the primary drivers of climate change, leading to intensified extreme weather events. The situation in Sichuan serves as a sobering reminder of the urgent need to address climate change and its potentially devastating consequences.
