The death toll from the highway collapse in southeastern China rose to 48 on Thursday, with search efforts continuing amidst challenging conditions in the mountainous region. The collapse occurred in Meizhou city, Guangdong province, early Wednesday morning, resulting in over 20 cars plunging down a steep slope.
Authorities in Meizhou reported that three additional individuals remained unidentified pending DNA testing, potentially bringing the total death toll to 51. Additionally, around 30 people sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the incident.
The collapse occurred following a month of heavy rainfall in the region, exacerbating the risk of such disasters. The vehicles involved in the collapse ignited upon impact, further complicating rescue efforts. Despite ongoing search operations, no foreigners have been identified among the victims thus far.
Search efforts have been impeded by adverse weather conditions, including rain and the continuous sliding of land and gravel down the slope. The aftermath of the disaster has left a visible scar on the lush forest landscape, with a curving earth-colored gash marking the site of the collapse.
Wen Yongdeng, the Communist Party secretary for the Meizhou emergency management bureau, highlighted the challenges faced by rescue teams, particularly due to the vehicles being buried under soil during the collapse. He emphasized the heightened risk of secondary disasters due to the saturated soil in the area, posing additional dangers during the rescue operation.
