In the midst of China’s many highways, the Meida Expressway was relatively unknown until a major accident during this year’s Labor Day holiday, unexpectedly drawing national attention.
During the holiday, many private car owners traveling out for vacation chose to hit the road in the early hours of May 1 to avoid peak travel times. The Meida Expressway was bustling with activity, cars dashing on the road.
However, around 2:10 AM, near the exit from Dapu to Chayang in Fujian, about 2 kilometers away, a section of the road suddenly collapsed, creating a crater of approximately 184.3 square meters – a deep abyss. A total of 18 vehicles fell into it, experiencing severe collisions, explosions, and fires, leading to fatalities.
According to mainland media reports, as of 2 PM on May 2, the accident had resulted in 48 deaths and 30 injuries. One of the vehicles carried a family of five, including the 15-year-old and 10-year-old sons of the driver, all of whom perished. A friend of the driver mentioned buying entrance tickets to a scenic area for the family just the day before.
Mr. Rao from Meizhou, Guangdong, was one of the fortunate survivors of the accident. He was driving a 7-seater van with seven people on board, including his wife, two children, and his parents-in-law.
Mr. Rao vividly recalled that under the clear night sky, with good visibility, he saw a darkened area ahead, mistaking it for standing water. He switched to the left lane’s fast track, accelerating past it. Being too close to the suspected water, he stepped hard on the gas pedal during the lane change, feeling the car lift as if flying, and after landing, the tire burst.
After stepping out of the car, Mr. Rao was shocked to discover that the darkened area was not a puddle but a collapsed section of the road, and the tire burst was due to the sharp position of the tire landing on the collapsed surface.
After calling the emergency hotline, seeing cars still approaching from behind, Mr. Rao’s wife urged the family to pick up their phones, turn on their flashlights, and wave frantically to signal approaching vehicles to stop and shouted, “Don’t move forward.” Unfortunately, no one stopped. One by one, vehicles continued to fall into the collapsed section.
Following the Meida Expressway collapse, people questioned whether it was a natural disaster or a man-made calamity.
As of now, officials have not disclosed the investigation results into the cause of the accident. However, based on past incidents, behind every major accident, there are human responsibilities and factors involved. If investigated thoroughly, each incident can be traced back to its origin.
In fact, this is not the first accident on the Meida Expressway. On April 1 of the previous year, due to continuous heavy rain, a steep slope at K55+690 towards Dapu on the Meida Expressway once collapsed during heavy rain, thankfully without casualties. The road section was fully reopened by midnight on May 9.
According to reports from Jiemian News, experts and related departments initially speculated that the accident might be related to factors like geological structure, erosion from rainwater, and construction quality.
Moreover, according to the Beijing News, several highway experts and industry insiders pointed out that there were signs of impending disaster before the accident occurred. The collapse targeted the slope stabilizing the highway, and given the volume of the collapse, it was unlikely an instantaneous event.
After reviewing the various information related to the Meida Expressway collapse, one cannot help but see it as a microcosm and metaphor for the current situation in China.
Just think, it’s not just the Meida Expressway that collapsed. While an exact statistical figure may not be found, a quick online search will reveal numerous similar incidents occurring in recent years, each shrouded in corruption.
Furthermore, more importantly, the “collapse” is not confined to just roads; the entire China is witnessing collapses in various sectors – the collapse of the Qiqihar stadium, the collapse of Inner Mongolia’s coal mines, the collapse of buildings in Yanjiao, the collapse of morality in Handan’s youth, the collapse of ethics in Chongqing gas companies, the collapse of memory in Henan University’s auditorium, the collapse of wealth in the real estate market, the collapse of dreams in the job market, and the collapse of the image of the Minister of Justice.
Ubiquitous and diversified “collapses” signal one thing – the imminent collapse of the Communist Party’s rule!
In the face of this upcoming historically significant “collapse,” some kind-hearted individuals, like Mr. Rao’s father-in-law, disregarded their safety to issue various warnings to those around them, urging everyone to stay away from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). However, many ignored these warnings, turning a blind eye. Even worse, some not only ignored the warnings but also aided the CCP in persecuting those who issued warnings. Once the CCP’s rule truly “collapses,” akin to the drivers on the Meida Expressway ignoring warnings and eventually falling into the pit, will they then regret in time?