A highway in China, in Guangdong province, collapsed on Wednesday May 1, killing at least nineteen people, public broadcaster CCTV announced.
According to information from the state channel, eighteen vehicles were “trapped” following this collapse, specifying that the incident had “affected forty-nine people, of whom nineteen were confirmed dead” . The lives of those hospitalized are not in danger, CCTV said.
Images posted on social media and reported in local media show smoke and flames rising from a deep ditch where the cars fell.
The authorities announced the sending of nearly 500 people to help with relief efforts, according to state media. The reason for the collapse has not yet been mentioned.
Guangdong province has been hit by a series of violent weather events in recent weeks, ranging from deadly floods to a destructive tornado.