Janice R. Andrews
The deadly highway collapse in southern China has claimed 48 lives, and rescue operations in the perilous Meizhou city area are stepping up. Following a month-long inundation in Guangdong province, torrential rains caused the collapse, which engulfed 23 cars and caused several of them to burst into flames as they hit the ground.
Due to inclement weather, rescue teams have had difficulty reaching the location as landslides and rain block their path. Authorities worry that further tragedies may occur during the ongoing hunt as excavators work nonstop to discover hidden cars.
In the midst of this depressing picture, there is a glimmer of optimism as three people are still awaiting DNA testing results, which might bring the total to 51. In a late-afternoon briefing, Mayor Wang Hui reaffirmed the commitment to the search despite the terrifying circumstances.
The incident highlights how susceptible the area is to severe weather; in just four weeks, more than 56 millimeters of rain fell on the region, worsening soil saturation and increasing the possibility of subsequent disasters.
In light of this tragedy, President Xi Jinping emphasizes the critical importance of social stability and public safety and asks for increased widespread alertness and preventive actions.
This catastrophe, which happened on May Day, serves as a sobering reminder of the need for effective disaster preparedness measures as well as the vulnerability of infrastructure to the wrath of nature.
