Chinese authorities are investigating the collapse of a section of a highway in Canton, which has resulted in 48 deaths and 30 injuries. The incident occurred at 02:10 local time (18:10 GMT on Tuesday) and affected an area of approximately 184.3 square meters. A 17.9-meter-long stretch of the Meizhou-Dabu highway collapsed, trapping 24 vehicles. Fortunately, the accident did not involve large vehicles or the transport of dangerous chemicals, according to local officials.
Rescue efforts are ongoing and involve more than 500 people working to free all the trapped vehicles and recover the bodies of the victims. The 30 injured individuals have been taken to nearby hospitals and are reportedly out of danger. The causes of the collapse are still under investigation, although authorities suspect that it may have been caused by heavy rains in the region in recent days.
This incident is one of several accidents that have occurred in China in recent months due to infrastructure collapses. Last December, three people died and four others were injured in Inner Mongolia when a section of a highway collapsed. Authorities are working to ensure the safety of the public and investigate the factors contributing to these infrastructure failures.
