Rainstorm topples bridge, casualties unknown

SHENYANG - Heavy overnight rain has toppled a road bridge that formed part of a national expressway in the city of Fuxin, in Northeast China's Liaoning province, local authorities said on Tuesday.

The accident happened at around 2 am on Monday. Information on casualties is not available due to the continuing downpour.

Built in 1969, the bridge in Fuxin forms part of the No 101 national expressway linking Beijing with Shenyang, the provincial capital of Liaoning.

The city's transport department has found another three bridges on the route in danger of collapse as downpours have eroded the structures' foundations. The department has closed the expressway section to traffic.

At 9 am, the provincial meteorological station issued a red rainstorm alert for Kuandian county, Dandong city, warning the region of up to 100 mm of precipitation in three hours.

Meanwhile, thunderstorms and rainstorms are continuing to wreak havoc in Central China's Hubei province and Southwest Sichuan province.

A storm accompanied by gales in Laohekou city, Hubei, tore down over 50 residential rooms on Monday night, injuring 12 people. Firefighters had to use inflatable cushions to prop up collapsed roof slabs to pull out injured residents.