At least 19 dead after huge chunk of highway collapses

At least 19 people were killed when a section of highway collapsed in southern China this morning.

More than a dozen cars fell down a slope when a 60ft chunk of road caved in early on Wednesday, according to local authorities.

Witnesses told local media they heard a loud noise and saw a hole open up several meters wide behind them after driving past the section of the road just before it collapsed.

Video and photos in local media showed smoke and fire at the scene.

Mangled highway rails can be seen slanting downward into the flames.

Blackened cars could also be seen on the slope leading down from the highway in Meizhou city in Guangdong province.

Rescue workers have taken 30 people to the hospital, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

It added that the lives of those being treated were ‘not currently at risk’ but gave no further details on their injuries.

Around 500 rescuers were sent to the site, according to CCTV.

The cause of the collapse has not been disclosed.

However, Guangdong has been hit by a slew of extreme weather events in recent weeks.

Those have ranged from heavy rain, to flooding and a deadly tornado.

Last week, flash floods killed four people and displaced 110,000 others.

They also damaged dozens of houses, closed schools and forced flight cancellations and delays.

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