A section of the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway in south China's Guangdong Province collapsed catastrophically at 2:10 a.m. Wednesday, sending 23 vehicles tumbling down a steep slope. Local authorities confirmed the death toll has risen to 36, with 30 others hospitalized – making this one of the year's deadliest infrastructure failures. 🚨
Race Against Time
Emergency crews continue search-and-rescue operations nearly 48 hours after the disaster. 'We're using drones and life-detection equipment to comb through debris,' a spokesperson said during a press conference. The cause remains under investigation, though heavy rains have battered the region for weeks. 🌧️
Infrastructure in Focus
This incident has sparked online discussions about aging roads in China's rapidly developing provinces. Guangdong – home to 127 million people – relies heavily on its 12,000 km expressway network. While authorities emphasize safety upgrades, some social media users demand faster reforms. 🛣️💬
