At least 36 people killed as highway collapses in southern China

Part of a road fell in southern China after heavy rains, causing cars to fall down and at least 36 people to die. This happened on Thursday.

The Meizhou city government said that 23 cars were found in a hole after a 17. 9-meter section of the highway collapsed at about 2 am on Wednesday. Thirty other people were hurt, but their injuries were not very serious, according to a statement from the government.

Some areas in Guangdong province have had very heavy rain and flooding in the last two weeks, also there has been hail. A big storm in Guangzhou last weekend killed five people.

Some of the villages in Meizhou got flooded in the beginning of April, and the city had experienced a lot of rain in the past few days.

The ground under the highway looked like it had sunk in, and the road above it had also collapsed. People told the news that they heard a big noise and saw a big hole appear behind them after they drove past the part that fell down.

Videos and pictures on the local news showed smoke and fire at the place, with the guardrails on the highway slanting into the flames. A bunch of burnt cars were visible on the hill coming down from the road.