In a tragic incident early Wednesday morning, a section of the Meilong expressway in Guangdong province, China, collapsed, claiming the lives of 24 people. The collapse, which occurred at 02:10 local time, involved a 17.9m (58 feet) stretch of the highway, following several days of relentless heavy rain that has battered the region.
Immediate Aftermath and Emergency Response
The catastrophic event resulted in thirty individuals being hospitalized, although they are reported by state media as “not currently at risk.” Authorities mobilized a significant emergency response, dispatching 500 personnel to manage the situation and assist in rescue operations.
Increasing Death Toll and Ongoing Investigations
Initial reports by state media cited 19 fatalities, but this figure was later updated by local officials to 24. The number of injured remains steady at 30. The exact cause of the highway’s collapse has not been officially stated, leaving room for ongoing investigations to determine the specifics of the failure.
Visuals from the Scene
Eyewitness footage captured shortly after the incident shows flames and black smoke rising from the wreckage, illustrating the severity of the collapse. According to official reports, 20 vehicles plummeted into the newly formed chasm caused by the highway giving way.
Broader Impact
This disaster comes in the wake of recent flash floods that have already inflicted significant damage across Guangdong, China’s most populous province. These floods resulted in four deaths, displaced 110,000 people, and caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including houses and schools, while also impacting flights.
This highway collapse marks a grave moment for Guangdong, highlighting the devastating impact of extreme weather events and raising concerns about the resilience of infrastructure in disaster-prone areas.
Also learn about 110,000 Evacuated as Heavy Flooding Hits China’s Guangdong Province.
