At least 12 people died and 31 others were injured after a highway bridge collapsed following torrential rains in China's Shaanxi Province on Friday, media reports said.

The bridge, located in Zhashui County in Shangluo City, partially collapsed around 8:40 p.m. on Friday due to a sudden downpour and flash floods, according to the provincial publicity department as quoted by Xinhua.

A total of 17 cars and eight trucks plunged into the Jinqian River below the bridge based on an initial investigation, the Chinese news agency reported.

A rescue operation is currently going on.

One person has been rescued so far.

Rescuers are trying to locate 31 people who are currently missing.