Death Toll Climbs to 48 as Search Continues in Southern China Highway Collapse

In a tragic turn of events, the death toll from a highway collapse in southern China has risen to 48, as rescue teams continue their search and recovery efforts amidst challenging conditions. The incident occurred early on May 1, 2024, when a section of the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway in Meizhou city, Guangdong province, gave way, sending over 20 cars careening down a steep slope.

The disaster, initially reported to have claimed 24 lives, saw a significant increase in fatalities as more information became available. The Meizhou city government confirmed that a 17.9-meter-long (58.7-foot) stretch of the highway collapsed, resulting in 23 vehicles plunging into the deep chasm below. Rescue workers have been tirelessly searching for survivors, with 30 people reported injured but not in life-threatening condition.

Heavy rains have been cited as the cause of the collapse, creating a dangerous environment for the rescue teams. Over 56 centimeters (22 inches) of rain had fallen in the area in the past four weeks, significantly more than the previous year. The prolonged rainfall has saturated the soil, making it prone to further landslides and complicating the already challenging rescue efforts.

President Xi Jinping has called on local officials to "go all-out in on-site rescue work and treatment of the injured, and arrange for the management of risks and hidden dangers in a timely manner," according to state broadcaster CCTV. The disaster has left a massive scar in the landscape, with rescue workers and excavators working around the clock to recover victims and vehicles from the site.

This incident marks the latest in a series of disasters linked to extreme weather events in Guangdong province in recent weeks. Earlier in April, the area had already been affected by floods, leading to the evacuation of over 100,000 residents. The highway collapse has been described as the deadliest road collapse incident in over a decade.

As the search and recovery operations continue, the nation mourns the loss of life and grapples with the challenges posed by the increasingly unpredictable climate.