At least 12 people died and dozens are missing after a highway bridge collapsed amid heavy storms in northwest China's Zhashui county, Shaanxi province, prompting President Xi Jinping to call for all-out rescue efforts.

The bridge collapse, which occurred at around 8:40 PM local time on Friday, has led to frantic rescue operations involving nearly 900 personnel and a fleet of vehicles, boats, and drones. The disaster highlights the severe weather conditions plaguing parts of China, with heavy rains and flooding following a period of drought. As rescue teams recover vehicles and search for the approximately 30 missing people, the tragedy underscores the vulnerability of infrastructure amidst changing climate patterns.

The collapse caused chaos and immediate deployment of rescue forces. Heavy storms and flooding preceded the tragic event, intensifying the difficulty of the rescue operations. The rescue team—comprising nearly 900 people, 90 vehicles, 20 boats, and 41 drones—has been tirelessly searching for survivors under challenging conditions.

By Saturday afternoon, at least five vehicles that fell off the bridge had been recovered. However, approximately 20 cars and 30 individuals remain unaccounted for. Among the missing, it is feared many may have been carried away by the fast-moving floodwaters.

Emergency services have reported the rescue of one person so far. Further rescue operations continue around the clock in hopes of finding more survivors amidst debris and turbulent waters. A photo released by local authorities depicted a section of the bridge folding sharply down into the rushing brown water, emphasizing the catastrophic failure of the structure.

This disaster has occurred at a time when parts of China are dealing with severe flooding immediately following severe drought conditions, illustrating the climatic extremities the region is facing. In addition to the bridge collapse in Shaanxi province, flash floods in Hanyuan County, Sichuan province have claimed over 30 individuals missing, while more than 100,000 people have been evacuated in Henan province due to flooding.

The Chinese government's prompt reaction, including President Xi Jinping's directive, has underlined the urgency of rescue and recovery initiatives. Xi has urged intensified efforts to rescue the missing, treat the injured, and provide comfort to the affected families, while also calling for thorough investigations into the cause of the collapse.

As the search for survivors continues, local municipalities and rescue teams face the double challenge of managing the ongoing rescue efforts while dealing with the possibility of further adverse weather. Meteorologists have indicated the potential for continued storms which could further complicate the rescue operations and recovery process.

Engineers and safety inspectors are expected to evaluate the integrity of similar structures in the wake of this collapse. Ensuring the safety and sturdiness of critical infrastructures like bridges is essential to prevent such tragedies in the future. The incident raises significant concerns about construction standards and climate change adaptability.

Addressing the severe flooding, the Chinese military has also been deployed to assist with reinforcing riverbanks and evacuating those at immediate risk. Other regions remain on high alert for potential flooding and structural failures, emphasizing the national scale of the issue.

Communities across the affected provinces are organizing to provide aid and shelter to those displaced by the flooding and related disasters. Efforts focus on ensuring the immediate safety of the populace while beginning the long-term task of recovery and rebuilding of infrastructure.

As China deals with the immediate aftermath of these natural disasters, the implications for climate policies, infrastructure resilience, and emergency preparedness are becoming more urgent. Officials have acknowledged the need for adaptive measures, particularly in regions prone to extreme weather patterns.

While the rescue continues, stories of loss and resilience emerge from the affected communities. The full extent of the damage remains to be seen, but the efforts underway signal a committed response to a disaster that has deeply affected many lives.