Dozens are hospitalized and 24 are dead following an early morning collapse on Wednesday, Labour Day, leaving a nearly 18-meter-long crater on a highway connecting Guangdong to Fujian province.
At about 2:10 a.m. on Wednesday (18:10 GMT on Tuesday), CCTV, the state broadcaster, reported that a 17.9-meter (58.7-foot) stretch of the S12 highway between Meizhou city and Dabu county caved in, trapping dozens of people in their vehicles.
This accident, occurring on the first day of the long Labour Day holiday, adds to the string of tragedies hitting Guangdong, which has been grappling with killer floods and tornadoes for weeks.
The cave-in collapse occurred at 2:10 a.m., trapping eighteen cars, as depicted in social media videos showing a fire raging beneath the collapsed section and emergency workers at the scene. In the light of day, the extent of the devastation became apparent, with cars piled up at the bottom of the ravine. By 11:45 a.m., thirty injured individuals were receiving medical care in hospitals, their conditions deemed stable and “not currently at risk,” for the moment.
Responding to the crisis, the Guangdong government swiftly dispatched a 500-strong rescue team to the scene. Updates from the state police confirmed that rescue efforts were still underway amidst challenging conditions. Southern China has been grappling with heavy rainfall in recent weeks, exacerbating existing flooding issues.
Guangdong province, home to 127 million people, has borne the brunt of the flooding, forcing over 110,000 individuals to evacuate. Tragically, the floods have claimed the lives of at least four people in Guangdong, including a heroic rescue worker.
Meanwhile, the search continues for at least ten individuals still missing in the aftermath of the disaster. Despite the challenges, rescue teams remain committed to their efforts to save lives and alleviate the suffering of those affected by the calamity.