24 Killed as Highway Collapses in Flood-Hit Southern China

At least 24 people were killed in southern China’s Guangdong province after heavy rain and flooding caused a section of highway to collapse. The incident occurred in the city of Meizhou, where 18 cars plunged down a slope when a 58.7-foot section of the highway gave way around 2 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Photos and videos on social media depicted flames and smoke rising from the collapsed highway, with vehicles partially buried under mud and debris. Thirty people were rescued from the site and are receiving treatment in hospital, according to state-run broadcaster CCTV. More than 500 personnel have been dispatched to assist with the rescue efforts.

The highway collapse is the latest in a series of disasters to hit Guangdong due to extreme weather. Over the weekend, a tornado struck Guangzhou, killing at least five people. Record rainfall, powerful storms, and widespread flooding have also plagued the region in recent weeks. Last week, authorities evacuated an entire township of around 1,700 residents due to severe flooding. Heavy rains and winds have damaged infrastructure and homes, with dozens of houses collapsing.

Guangdong, China’s most populous province with over 126 million residents, is a key industrial hub known as the “factory floor of the world.” The province’s recent weather-related disasters underscore the challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather events in the region.

In its 2023 State of the Climate report, the World Meteorological Organization highlighted Asia as the world’s most disaster-prone region due to weather, climate, and water-related hazards. Floods and storms caused the highest number of reported casualties and economic losses in 2023. China experienced several extreme weather events in 2023, including its hottest year on record. Last August, Beijing saw its heaviest rainfall in 140 years, while a remote town in Xinjiang recorded a temperature of 126 degrees Fahrenheit, an all-time high for the country. In June 2022, Guangdong experienced its heaviest rainfall in six decades, leading to major floods and landslides.