A highway collapse kills dozens in southern China

CNN
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A highway collapsed in southern China early Wednesday morning, sending cars tumbling down a hill and killing dozens, Chinese state media reported.

At least 48 people were killed when a section of the highway linking Meizhou City to Dabu County in Guangdong Province collapsed, according to Ma Zhengyong, Communist Party secretary of Meizhou City.

About 23 vehicles were recovered as rescue work continued on Thursday, while 30 injured people remained in hospital in stable condition, China Central Television reported.

The official radio said that the Guangdong provincial government sent a rescue team of about 500 people.

Officials told Xinhua News Agency that more than 184 square meters of the highway had disintegrated.

Videos widely circulated on social media, filmed in the dark, showed a fire burning below where the road was supposed to be and emergency workers at the scene.

Pictures taken after dawn showed cars piled up at the bottom of the valley.

Southern China has been exposed to heavy rains in recent weeks.

Guangdong, an economic powerhouse with a population of 127 million people, witnessed widespread flooding that forced more than 110,000 people to move elsewhere, state media reported, citing the local government.

The New China News Agency (Xinhua) reported on Monday that the floods claimed the lives of at least four people in Guangdong Province, including a rescue worker. She added that at least 10 people are still missing.

This story has been updated with additional developments.