The Haikou Municipal Maintenance Department announced at 14:10 on February 27, that during asphalt resurfacing work on a section of Binhai Avenue near Wuyuan River in Haikou, a void beneath the road surface caused the rear wheels and part of the cargo compartment of a dump truck carrying asphalt material to sink into the road. Fortunately, no injuries or equipment damage were reported.
Urban road collapses have become increasingly common in China, posing significant threats to public safety and infrastructure. Between 2014 and 2018, there were 2,322 large-scale road collapse incidents nationwide, affecting hundreds of kilometers of roadways and resulting in direct economic losses amounting to tens of billions of yuan.
The eastern coastal regions, characterized by rapid urbanization, have experienced the highest frequency of such incidents.
The Haikou Municipal Maintenance Department is currently repairing the affected section of Binhai Avenue and investigating the cause of the incident, with repairs expected to be completed within two days.
In light of the increasing occurrence of road collapses, authorities are emphasizing the importance of proactive measures, such as regular inspections and maintenance, to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Related article: Robot Lifebuoy Deployed in Sea Rescue Mission off Coast of Hainan
