China Hit by Landslides Deadly Flash Floods Sweep Away Nepal-China Bridge

"Suddenly, there was a loud boom from deep in the valley. Huge rocks came crashing down

from the mountain like thunder hitting the earth. The rocks smashed into a bridge.

The torrential downpours, part of the annual “Plum Rains” season, have swept from the southwest through central China and up to the northeast, prompting red alerts in Sichuan, Gansu and Liaoning provinces.

The floods, which began early Tuesday, struck the Rasuwa district, where the Nepal-China Friendship Bridge is. Officials said their initial assessment showed extensive damage to the customs yard at the border crossing, where hundreds of vehicles and cargo containers were parked. There were also reports of power outages from damaged hydropower plants.
Nepal’s army and police used helicopters to rescue 55 people, while the search for at least 18 others continued. The police said missing people included three police personnel, nine Nepali civilians and six Chinese nationals. . ChinaObserver