19 killed as highway collapses in China's Guangdong amid heavy rain

2 weeks ago

Eighteen cars fell down a slope after a 17.9-metre-long section of the highway collapsed in Meizhou city in China's Guangdong province. Authorities said 19 people were killed in the incident.

Video screengrab shows smoke rising from damaged cars that rolled off the collapsed highway. (X/@RawsGlobal)

Associated Press

Beijing,UPDATED: May 1, 2024 12:46 IST

A section of a highway collapsed early Wednesday in southern China leaving at least 19 people dead, local officials said, after the area had experienced heavy rain in recent days.

Eighteen cars fell down a slope after a 17.9-metre-long section of the highway collapsed, according to a statement from authorities in Meizhou city in Guangdong province. The incident occurred around 2 AM.

ðŸšè#WATCH: As daytime footage shows the aftermath of a highway collapse which left dozens of casualties in southern China.

📌#Guangdong | #China

At least 19 people were killed and 30 others were hospitalized after a section of a highway collapsed in the Guangdong province ofâ€æ pic.twitter.com/r1hR0UXw65 — R A W S G L 🌎 B A L (@RawsGlobal) May 1, 2024

Witnesses told local media they heard a loud noise and saw a hole open up several metres wide behind them after driving past the section of the road just before it collapsed.

Video and photos in local media showed smoke and fire at the scene, with highway rails slanting downward into the flames. Blackened cars could also be seen on the slope leading down from the highway.

Rescue workers have taken 30 people to the hospital, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Published By:

Devika Bhattacharya

Published On:

May 1, 2024

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