Southern China: 48 fatalities due to road collapse

On Wednesday 1^st of May around 2a.m. local time in southern China a tragic incident occurred, as a segment of highway, spanning 17.90m, collapsed. More specifically, the ground beneath the road gave way, along with the section that broke off, exacerbating the severity of the incident. As a result of the accident, 20 cars plummet down a slope, claiming the lives of at least 48 people.

The region has been facing severe weather conditions, including heavy rains, and flooding over the past couple of weeks. In Meizhou, some areas had already experienced flooding in early April, with recent days witnessing persistent downpours. Emergency responders transported 30 injured people to hospitals, according to local authorities.

Witnesses reported that they heard a loud noise and then noticed a large hole opening up behind them after they passed the road section. Local media displayed images of smoke and flames covering the area, with highway barriers tilting downward into the hole. Several burned cars were strewn across the slope below the damaged highway.