BEIJING Chinese President Xi Jinping urged all-out rescue efforts after a highway bridge collapse on Friday in the northwest province of Shaanxi killed 11 people, state media reported on Saturday.

The incident occurred at 8.40pm (1240 GMT) in the Shangluo city on Friday, when a highway bridge collapsed due to a flash flood, causing some vehicles to fall into the river.

As of 10am on Saturday, five vehicles were confirmed to have fallen into the water, and 30 people were missing, state media said.

Xi said China is in a critical period for flood control, and local governments must take responsibility to enhance monitoring and early warning.

China's national fire and rescue authority said on Saturday it had dispatched a rescue team to the site that included 859 people, 90 vehicles, 20 boats and 41 drones.

  - Reuters