#dead #injured #road #collapse #China
The Chinese authorities confirmed that there are at least 48 people dead and 30 injured after the collapse of a section of a highway in the southern Chinese province of Canton.
The accident occurred on Wednesday night, affecting an area of approximately 184.3 square meters on a 17.9-meter-long stretch of the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway; 24 vehicles were trapped.
Collapse did not involve large vehicles nor the transportation of dangerous chemicals, local officials said.
The rescue efforts, which included participation of more than 500 people, continue their course given the dimensions of the collapse; They seek to free all vehicles and recover the bodies of the fatal victims.
The 30 injured were taken to nearby hospitals, where they are out of life risk.
Search and rescue tasks
The causes of the collapse are still being investigated by the authorities, although it is suspected that it could be a consequence of the heavy rains that hit the region in recent days.
For his part, Chinese President Xi Jinping assured that a “total” effort is being made in search and rescue tasks, reported the official Xinhua news agency.
“The efforts needed to repair roads damaged and restore traffic order as soon as possible,” Xi said.
It should be noted that in recent months there have been several accidents in the country due to the collapse of infrastructure.
Last December, three people died and four others were injured in the Chinese province of Inner Mongolia (north) when a section of a highway collapsed.
