Highway collapse in southern China’s Guangdong province leaves at least 19 dead

BEIJING – A section of a highway collapsed on Wednesday morning in southern China, leaving at least 19 people dead, local authorities said, after the area suffered heavy rain in recent days.

Eighteen cars plunged down a slope after a 17.9-meter section of the highway collapsed, according to a statement from authorities in the city of Meizhou in Guangdong province. The incident occurred around 2am

Witnesses told local media that they heard a loud noise and saw a hole open several meters wide behind them after they passed through the section of road just before it collapsed.

Videos and photos in local media showed smoke and fire at the scene, with highway tracks sloping downward toward the flames. Blackened cars could also be seen on the slope leading down from the highway.

Rescue teams took 30 people to hospital, state broadcaster CCTV reported.