MEIZHOU, CHINA – A devastating highway collapse in southern China led to the deaths of 24 individuals on Wednesday. The incident, which occurred around 2 a.m., resulted in 18 vehicles plummeting down an embankment.
The catastrophic event occurred when a 58.7-foot section of the highway gave way, according to statements from local authorities in Meizhou city, Guangdong province. Eyewitnesses recounted hearing a deafening sound and seeing a gaping hole appear in their rear-view mirrors after they had driven past the compromised section of the highway.
By Wednesday afternoon, the death toll had escalated to 24, as reported by China’s official Xinhua News agency. The region has been grappling with extreme weather conditions, including record rainfall, flooding, and hailstorms over the past fortnight. The city of Meizhou had been particularly affected, with several villages submerged in early April and persistent heavy rains in the days leading up to the collapse.
Images from the scene showed a grim landscape with highway rails tilting into a fiery abyss and a pile of charred vehicles on the slope below the highway. The earth beneath the highway had seemingly given way, leading to the road section’s collapse.
Rescue operations are underway, with 30 individuals already transported to the hospital, as per state broadcaster CCTV.