In the wake of a tragic bridge collapse in Shaanxi province, the Ministry of Emergency Management in China has called for enhanced safety checks of critical infrastructure across the country. The incident, which occurred on the Danning highway in Shangluo, claimed the lives of 15 individuals, with rescue operations ongoing to locate the remaining missing vehicles.

State news agency, Xinhua, reported that the collapse of the bridge was triggered by heavy rain and subsequent flash flooding. This marks the second such incident in three months, following a similar collapse in Meizhou, Guangdong province, which resulted in the deaths of 51 people.

Additionally, a separate flash flood in Hanyuan county, Sichuan province, claimed at least 10 lives, with 29 individuals reported missing. The peak of China's rainy season, lasting from mid-July to mid-August, has seen severe weather conditions this year, leading to frequent flood alerts and warnings across multiple regions.

The Ministry of Emergency Management has emphasized the need to learn from the recent bridge collapse and prevent further disasters resulting in mass casualties. Local authorities have been directed to intensify monitoring of key infrastructure, such as highways, railways, water-related construction projects, bridges, urban underground spaces, and tunnels. The ministry has also called for the utilization of advanced monitoring equipment to detect and report risk factors at an early stage.

Various provinces, including Shaanxi and Hubei, have already initiated risk inspections on infrastructure, particularly bridges. Authorities have been urged to adopt a worst-case scenario approach in dealing with extreme weather events and avoid taking unnecessary risks or becoming complacent.

In response to the recent flash flood in Sichuan province, the transport department has requested comprehensive inspections of disaster-prone areas and infrastructure, as well as the deployment of intelligent monitoring technologies like ground-penetrating radar and drones for real-time infrastructure monitoring.

The Danning highway, where the bridge collapse occurred, is a provincial road that connects three cities and is part of the national road network planning. The construction project, operated under a public-private partnership model, was led by the Shangluo government. The affected section of the highway, which spans from Shanyang county to Zhashui county, was opened for operation in December 2018.

As China reflects on these recent tragedies, a renewed focus on safety measures and preventive actions is taking center stage. The authorities are determined to avoid further loss of life and ensure the security of vital infrastructure throughout the country.