On Wednesday, heavy rains caused a part of a highway to collapse in Guangdong province, located in southern China, leading to the death of at least 24 individuals, as per state media reports.
Gatekeepers News reports that Guangdong, which is a densely populated industrial region, has been experiencing rainstorms lately, leading to severe flooding and landslides in certain areas.
The downpours have been heavier than the usual amount expected for this time of the year and are being attributed to the acceleration of climate change.
Xinhua, the state news agency, reported that the collapse occurred at around 2:10 am on Wednesday (1810 GMT Tuesday) on the stretch of road between Meizhou city and Dabu county in Guangdong province.
A total of 54 individuals were involved, with 20 vehicles getting trapped in the incident.
As of 3:00 pm (1900 GMT), “24 people have been confirmed dead, and 30 are receiving all-out emergency care in hospital”, Xinhua said.
Recovery work was ongoing and the lives of those hospitalised were “not currently at risk”, it added, without specifying their injuries.
An aerial photograph published by state broadcaster CCTV showed wrecked vehicles lying in a deep muddy pit where the highway once ran.
Dozens of emergency vehicles and cranes congregated along the intact section of the road, which bisects a steep, wooded slope.
CCTV said the collapse was a “natural geological disaster… (that occurred) under the impact of persistent heavy rain.”
It reported that a nearly 18-metre (59-foot) stretch of road had fallen away.
Authorities have dispatched around 500 people to the site to help with the rescue operation, CCTV reported.
They are drawn from departments handling public security, emergency response, firefighting and mining rescue, according to the broadcaster.
Local authorities said in a notice that part of the S12 highway was closed in both directions and ordered drivers to take detours.
