Death toll rises to 36 as highway collapses in China after heavy rains

A shiny four-lane road. A huge ditch has been created across one side of it! Under which there is a row of cars. South China’s Guangdong province witnessed such a terrible incident. China’s state media reported that a section of the connecting highway between Meizhou and Dapu in Guangdong province suddenly collapsed around 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday. A deep ditch, about 58 feet long, is formed in the middle of the road. The death toll was initially estimated at 19. Later, according to news agency Associated Press, the death toll has risen to 24. At least 30 injured people are undergoing treatment in different hospitals.

Several parts of southern China have been experiencing incessant rains for the past few days. Several cities, including Canton, are in a flood situation. China has not yet officially announced whether the soil loosening caused such a big disaster on the highway due to the ban. However, a large rescue team of about 500 people has been sent there by the local administration of Guangdong province.

Videos and aerial photos of the damaged roads will cause panic. It appears that part of the state-of-the-art expressway running through the green hills has been destroyed. Part of the road is practically sitting in a deep ditch. At least 8–10 cars are lying down. Some other wrecked car parts are also seen. A number of vehicles probably caught fire on impact.

A final warning has already been issued in Guangdong province due to monsoons. At least 100,000 people have been evacuated due to flooding. The Chinese administration will also issue detailed guidelines on driving on the highway in the future.

By Banasree Sarkar