Tragedy struck in a mountainous area in southern China as heavy rains caused a section of a highway to collapse, resulting in at least 36 fatalities. The incident occurred in Meizhou city, where a 58.7-foot long portion of the highway gave way around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, sending 23 vehicles tumbling down a slope.
Fortunately, 30 individuals sustained injuries, although none were life-threatening. The search and rescue operation faced challenges due to ongoing rain, as well as gravel and soil movements at the site, posing risks to the workers involved.
Rescue teams utilized dogs, life-detecting devices, excavators, and cranes to search the area, which was divided into 10 grids. Witnesses described hearing a loud noise and witnessing a wide hole opening up behind them after passing the section that eventually collapsed.
The aftermath of the collapse left a stark scar on the once lush green forested slope, with images showing smoke, fire, and a highway guardrail leaning into the flames. The scene depicted a pile of charred vehicles on the slope, with a construction crane lowering mangled cars to the road surface.
Recent heavy rainfall in the region, with over 22 inches recorded in the past four weeks, has raised concerns about infrastructure stability. Guangdong province, where the collapse occurred, has experienced record rains, flooding, and even a fatal tornado in recent weeks.
China's rapid infrastructure expansion, including numerous highway bridges and high-speed trains, has highlighted concerns about design flaws and construction quality. The country's Belt and Road Initiative, aimed at global infrastructure development, has also faced criticism for similar issues.
Despite efforts to enhance safety measures and infrastructure quality, incidents like the Meizhou highway collapse serve as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by natural disasters and the importance of robust construction standards and maintenance practices.
