In a tragic incident in China's Guangdong province, the collapse of a section of the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway early Wednesday has led to the death of 48 people, with 30 others injured. The collapse, which occurred during the peak travel period of the five-day May Day holiday, saw vehicles plummet down a steep embankment, compounding the national tragedy.
The disaster struck at approximately 2:10 a.m. local time amid ongoing severe weather conditions, including heavy rainfall that has battered the region since late April. The resulting landslide caused a significant portion of the highway, measuring 17.9 meters (58.7 feet), to give way, sending 23 vehicles into a perilous fall. The situation was further exacerbated by some vehicles catching fire upon impact.
Local officials and state media have been actively covering the developments, with President Xi Jinping urging maximum rescue efforts. Over 577 personnel, along with more than 80 rescue vehicles and heavy machinery, have been deployed to the site, although the challenging conditions have hindered the speed and effectiveness of the response.
The terrain, saturated with recent rains that exceeded four times the usual amount for this time of year, poses a significant risk for further slides, complicating the ongoing rescue operations. Search teams are navigating a landscape scarred by a curving, earth-colored gash where the forest once stood, now a site of twisted metal and debris.
During a press conference, Meizhou Mayor Wang Hui reported the complexity of the rescue efforts, citing fires and the burial of vehicles under soil as primary obstacles. "Because some of the vehicles involved caught fire, the difficulty of the rescue operation has increased," stated Wen Yongdeng, Communist Party secretary for Meizhou's emergency management bureau.
Officials have also raised concerns about the risk of secondary disasters due to the unstable soil, which remains heavily saturated from the recent deluge. The persistent rain has not only triggered this catastrophic event but also contributed to broader environmental impacts across Guangdong, including record flooding and even a tornado in Guangzhou that claimed five lives last weekend.
The national response has been swift, with task forces from both central and local governments dispatched to aid in the efforts. Additionally, President Xi has called for enhanced monitoring and early warning systems across all regions to prevent such disasters in the future and ensure public safety.
