According to state media, a tragic incident occurred in southern China early Wednesday when a section of a highway collapsed. This devastating event resulted in cars tumbling and tragically claimed the lives of at least 24 people.
According to a statement from authorities in Meizhou city in Guangdong province, a total of eighteen cars tumbled down a slope when a 59-foot section of the highway collapsed. The incident took place around 2 a.m.
According to China’s official Xinhua News agency, the death toll had reached 24 by Wednesday afternoon.
Guangdong province has been experiencing unprecedented rainfall and flooding in certain areas over the past two weeks, accompanied by hailstorms. In early April, several villages in Meizhou were submerged due to flooding, and the city has continued to face heavy rainfall in recent days.
According to witnesses, they heard a loud noise and noticed a significant hole opening up several meters wide behind them, right after they had driven past the specific section of the road that eventually collapsed.
Smoke and fire engulfed the scene, as captured in videos and photos from local media. The highway rails tilted downwards, disappearing into the fiery inferno below. On the slope descending from the highway, a heap of charred cars stood as a grim testament to the devastation.
The ground beneath the highway seemed to have collapsed, causing a section of the road to break off.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, rescue workers have transported 30 individuals to the hospital.
