At least 11 people dead and dozens missing after bridge collapse in China following horror floods and heavy storms

Large areas of northern and central China have been battered since Tuesday as torrential downpours have caused widespread damage.

Horror images shown by state broadcasters show muddy water flooding several neighbourhoods as local residents and emergency operators carry out rescue missions.

President Xi Jinping said China is in a "critical period for flood control" and urged local authorities to take monitor and provide early warnings to people.

China's western and southwestern provinces are particularly prone to flooding and landslides due to their mountainous landscapes and the powerful rivers that run through them. 

In May, at least 48 people died after a highway in southern China collapsed after days of rain.

It comes after a huge inferno raging at a 14-storey building killed 16 people in China.

Horror video showed towering plumes of black smoke engulfing the building in Zigong, Sichuan province.

Emergency services rushed to the scene just after 6pm and pulled 75 people to safety, news agency Xinhua reports.

While the cause of the fire is unknown, early reports suggest it could have been caused by construction at the huge shopping centre.