Southern China Highway Collapse: Death Toll Rises to 36
Heavy Rain Blamed for "Natural Geological Disaster"
A devastating highway collapse in southern China has claimed the lives of 36 people, with rescue efforts ongoing to retrieve vehicles from the scene. The incident occurred early on Wednesday morning, coinciding with the start of China's busy May holiday travel period.
State Media Reports
State news agency Xinhua reported that as of May 2nd, 5:30 am, 36 fatalities had been confirmed, with 30 additional people sustaining injuries. Thankfully, none of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.
Cause of the Collapse
According to aerial photographs, the collapse occurred on the S12 highway between Meizhou City and Dabu County. The earth beneath the highway gave way, sending mud cascading down a steep, forested hillside. State broadcaster CCTV attributed the incident to a "natural geological disaster" caused by "persistent heavy rain." Reports indicate that a 17.9-meter (58.7-foot) section of the road collapsed, burying at least 23 vehicles in mud.
Witness Accounts
Local media outlets reported that numerous witnesses described hearing "a huge explosion" following sounds of vehicles falling. This paints a horrifying picture of the sudden and catastrophic nature of the collapse.
Emergency Response
A large-scale rescue operation involving close to 500 emergency personnel, including firefighters and mine rescue specialists, was deployed to the scene. The highway was closed in both directions to facilitate rescue efforts. Images from the location depict a massive crane extracting damaged cars from the mud, with excavators standing by. Rescue teams are employing search dogs and life-detecting equipment to locate any remaining survivors.
Challenges Faced by Rescuers
Fire department officials acknowledged the significant challenges faced by rescue workers. The shifting gravel and soil at the collapse site pose a safety hazard to personnel, further compounded by the ongoing rain. These factors are making the search operation a difficult and dangerous task.
