A section of highway in southern China’s Guangdong province has collapsed, resulting in the tragic deaths of 19 individuals and injuries to 30 others who are currently receiving urgent medical attention in hospitals. The incident occurred at approximately 2:10 am (1810 GMT Tuesday) on a stretch of road connecting Meizhou city and Dabu county. The collapse caused 18 vehicles to become entrapped, affecting a total of 49 people.
As of 11:45 am, CCTV reported that 19 individuals had lost their lives, with the status of those hospitalized stable but their specific injuries unspecified.
Footage circulating on social media platforms depicts a scene of devastation, with a sizable number of wrecked vehicles lying at the bottom of a profound, muddy pit where the highway once stood. Emergency personnel, including firefighters and individuals wearing high-visibility vests, were observed near a cordon erected a short distance from the collapsed section. Additional clips, seemingly captured before dawn, revealed flames emanating from the pit.
Authorities have swiftly dispatched around 500 personnel to the site to assist in the rescue operations, comprising individuals from public security, emergency response, firefighting, and mining rescue departments. Local authorities have implemented the closure of the affected segment of the S12 highway in both directions, instructing drivers to utilize alternative routes.
The cause of Wednesday’s road collapse remains under investigation. However, this incident adds to a series of deadly disasters that have struck Guangdong in recent weeks. The province, an economic powerhouse with a densely populated urban landscape, has faced relentless heavy rains, leading to deadly floods in certain areas. Notably, a swirling tornado claimed the lives of five individuals when it ravaged the metropolis of Guangzhou last week.
China’s extensive highway network often traverses challenging terrain and diverse climatic conditions. Road accidents are not uncommon in the country due to limited implementation of rigorous safety regulations. In March, a tragic bus accident within an expressway tunnel in northern Shanxi province resulted in the deaths of 14 people and injuries to 37 others. Furthermore, a vehicle pile-up in central Hunan province in February last year claimed the lives of sixteen individuals, while a similar incident in eastern Jiangxi province a month earlier led to the deaths of nineteen people.
