KUALA LUMPUR – At least 24 people died and 20 vehicles are still trapped in a massive mud pit after part of a highway in China’s southern province of Guangdong collapsed due to the downpour in recent weeks.
The 2am collapse of an 18m stretch linking Meizhou city and Dabu County is believed to be caused by a “natural geological disaster that took place under the impact of persistent heavy rain”, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Meanwhile, state news agency Xinhua reported that 30 people are receiving emergency care in a hospital as of 3pm today.
Despite the bad weather, smoke and flames are still billowing from the steep slope, while dozens of emergency vehicles and cranes are parked along the intact section of the highway.
Some 500 rescuers have been deployed to the site.
Guangdong has been experiencing severe weather and fierce storms in recent weeks, resulting in massive floods and landslides.
The floods last month claimed the lives of four people and the evacuation of more than 100,000.
A freak tornado killed five people when it ripped through the province’s Guangzhou megapolis.
The state media also reported that such severe floods this early in the year were last seen in 1954. – May 1, 2024