Tragedy Strikes in Guangdong: Highway Collapse Claims 24 Lives
In a devastating turn of events, twenty-four individuals have lost their lives as a section of a mountainside highway crumbled in China’s Guangdong province. This catastrophic incident occurred following days of relentless heavy rain.
At 02:10 local time (19:10 BST) on Wednesday, a 17.9m (58 feet) stretch of the Meilong expressway gave way, resulting in the tragic loss of life. Thirty others were rushed to the hospital for treatment in the aftermath of the collapse.
The cause of this heart-wrenching disaster is yet to be determined by authorities. Images captured by state media reveal a gaping hole in the forested mountainside beneath the highway.
Despite the grim circumstances, the 30 individuals currently receiving medical care are reportedly stable. The provincial government wasted no time in dispatching 500 emergency response personnel to the scene to aid in the rescue efforts.
Initially, state media reported 19 casualties, but local authorities later confirmed the heartbreaking toll of 24 lives lost, with the number of injured individuals remaining at 30.
Footage from the aftermath shows flames and black smoke rising from below the highway, with a total of 20 vehicles plunging into the collapsed section of the road, as confirmed by authorities.
Another video broadcast by state media depicts a disturbing scene of charred cars engulfed in smoke and partially buried in mud.
Guangdong, China’s most densely populated province, has recently been grappling with the aftermath of flash floods that claimed four lives and displaced 110,000 residents. The floods wreaked havoc on homes, schools, and transportation, resulting in significant economic losses estimated at 140.6 million yuan ($19.4 million; £15.5 million).
The turbulent weather persisted over the weekend, as a tornado tore through a factory district in the provincial capital of Guangzhou, leading to the tragic deaths of five individuals and injuries to 33 others. Additionally, hailstones the size of golf balls pounded the city, adding to the chaos. — BBC
