Tragedy struck in southern China early Wednesday as a section of a highway collapsed, resulting in at least 24 fatalities. The incident occurred in Meizhou city, Guangdong province, where 18 cars tumbled down a slope after a 58.7-foot long section of the highway gave way around 2 a.m.
Authorities in Meizhou city confirmed the grim news, with the death toll rising to 24 by Wednesday afternoon, as reported by China's official news agency. The region has been grappling with severe weather conditions, including record rains, flooding, and hail over the past few weeks. Some villages in Meizhou had already experienced flooding in early April, with heavy rains persisting in recent days.
Eyewitnesses recounted hearing a loud noise and witnessing a hole several meters wide open up behind them after passing the section of the road that later collapsed. Images and videos circulating in local media depicted smoke and fire at the scene, with highway rails slanting downward into the flames. A cluster of charred vehicles could be seen on the slope leading away from the highway, indicating the severity of the incident.
The ground beneath the highway appeared to have caved in, causing the section of the road to break off. Rescue efforts were promptly initiated, with reports indicating that 30 individuals have been transported to the hospital for medical attention. The aftermath of the collapse has left the community in shock and mourning, underscoring the importance of infrastructure safety and disaster preparedness in the face of natural calamities.