An early morning collapse of a highway section in Guangdong province, southern China, on Wednesday, May 1, has resulted in the confirmed deaths of 48 people.
The incident took place at approximately 2:10 a.m. on the S12 highway, a major route linking Meizhou City and Dabu County.
As a result of the highway collapse, a 58.7-foot portion of the road gave way, causing a minimum of 23 vehicles to tumble down a slope and ensnaring numerous individuals in their automobiles.
State broadcaster Xinhua reported on Thursday afternoon that the death toll had risen to 48, with an additional 30 individuals receiving urgent medical attention at nearby hospitals. It was further added that none of the hospitalized individuals were in immediate life-threatening condition.
Xinhua reported, “Reporters understand from a press conference held by the city of Meizhou, Guangdong, that the highway collapse disaster… has led to the deaths of 48 people” on Thursday afternoon.
Witnesses at the scene reported hearing a loud noise before realizing that a gaping hole had formed in the highway section they had just traversed. Local news outlets described scenes of mangled guardrails and vehicles submerged in a deep pit post-collapse.
Photographs from the site depicted vehicles stacked at the base of the collapsed highway section, with fire and smoke billowing from the wreckage. Almost 500 emergency responders were mobilized to aid in the rescue efforts. The affected highway stretch was shut down and motorists were rerouted.
Despite the enormity of the collapse, commendations have been given by the authorities for the swift reaction by emergency teams, leading to immediate medical assistance for survivors. The ongoing operation to recover and identify the deceased is expected to continue over the next few days.
President Xi Jinping has instructed officials to put forth maximum effort in conducting rescue operations and caring for the injured, as reported by CCTV on Thursday. He also stressed the importance of swiftly addressing and managing any potential risks or undisclosed hazards.
While the exact cause of the collapse has not been officially confirmed, it is widely believed that recent heavy rainfall linked to climate change, and consequent flooding played a significant role. Initial reports point to a “natural geological disaster” induced by the relentless rainfall. Over the past two weeks, Guangdong province has experienced unprecedented rains and flooding, along with hailstorms, that claimed the lives of four individuals and necessitated the evacuation of over 100,000 residents. A tornado also claimed five lives in Guangzhou, the provincial capital, last weekend.
Heavy rainfall and resultant floods pose unique risks to roads in mountainous regions and bridge structures on highways due to erosion, debris accumulation, and landslides. China has recently significantly expanded its infrastructure, incorporating over a million bridges on its highways, establishing the world’s largest network of rapid trains, and constructing many new airports.
