In the early hours of May 1, a section of a highway in Guangdong province, southern China, collapsed, resulting in the confirmed deaths of 48 people.

The incident occurred around 2:10 a.m. on the S12 highway that connects Meizhou city and Dabu county.

A 59-foot portion of the road gave way, causing approximately 23 vehicles to slide down an embankment, with dozens of passengers trapped inside their cars.

As reported by the State broadcaster Xinhua, the death toll from the highway collapse stood at 48 by Thursday afternoon. Additionally, 30 individuals were receiving emergency medical treatment at nearby hospitals, with no immediate threat to their lives, according to the broadcaster.

Xinhua’s report from a press conference in Meizhou City, Guangdong, confirmed that the highway collapse disaster had caused 48 fatalities.

Images from the disaster scene depicted vehicles piled up at the base of the collapsed section of the highway, engulfed in flames and smoke. Nearly 500 emergency responders were sent to assist in rescue efforts. The impacted section of the highway was closed, and motorists were redirected to alternative routes.

While the official cause of the highway collapse is yet to be confirmed, it is widely believed that relentless heavy rains and subsequent flooding played significant roles. In the past fortnight, parts of Guangdong province have experienced record-breaking rains and flooding, along with hailstorms that resulted in the deaths of four individuals and the evacuation of over 100,000 people. A tornado in Guangzhou, the provincial capital, claimed five lives last weekend.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud sound before seeing a gaping hole in the section of the highway they had just crossed. Local news outlets described scenes of bent guardrails and vehicles swallowed by a deep pit after the collapse.

Authorities are currently investigating the exact cause of the collapse, with preliminary findings suggesting a “natural geological disaster” triggered by the persistent heavy rainfall.

Despite the collapse’s magnitude, the quick response of emergency teams has been praised, as it allowed for the swift provision of medical attention to survivors. The task of recovery and identification of those who died is ongoing, with efforts expected to continue in the coming days.

On Thursday, CCTV reported that President Xi Jinping had instructed officials to use all possible resources in rescue operations and care for the injured. He stressed the necessity of promptly identifying and managing any potential risks or hidden dangers.

Heavy rainfall and ensuing floods pose particular threats to roads in mountainous regions and bridges on highways due to erosion, debris accumulation, and landslides. In recent years, China has expanded its infrastructure significantly, with over a million bridges on its highways, the largest network of high-speed trains in the world, and many new airports.