At least 24 people died after part of a highway collapsed due to heavy rains in Guangdong province on Wednesday, state media said.

Xinhua news agency said that a stretch of road between Meizhou city and Dabu county caved in at around 2.10am. The incident caused 20 vehicles to become trapped and involved a total of 54 people.

As of 3pm, "24 people have been confirmed dead, and 30 are receiving all-out emergency care in hospital", Xinhua said.

The news agency also said the incident did not involve any large vehicles or vehicles transporting hazardous chemicals.

An aerial photograph published by broadcaster CCTV showed wrecked vehicles lying in a deep muddy pit where the highway once ran, while dozens of emergency vehicles and cranes congregated along the intact section of the road, which bisects a steep, wooded slope. It reported that a nearly 18-metre stretch of road had fallen away.

Authorities have dispatched around 500 people to the site to help with the rescue operation. They are drawn from departments handling public security, emergency response, firefighting and mining rescue.

The incident is the latest in a string of disasters attributed to extreme weather events in Guangdong in recent weeks.

Massive downpours last month sparked floods in a different part of the province that claimed the lives of four people and forced the evacuation of over 100,000.

And a swirling tornado killed five people when it ripped through Guangzhou last week. (AFP)
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Last updated: 2024-05-01 HKT 19:21