A historic structure in Anhui, known as the largest drum tower in China, faced a grave incident when its roof collapsed, leading to an ongoing investigation.
Historic Ming Dynasty Tower Roof Collapses in Anhui, China
Historic Ming Dynasty Tower Roof Collapses in Anhui, China
Eyewitnesses capture the moment as the Drum Tower's roof collapses, sparking safety concerns.
Hundreds of ancient tiles from the roof of the Drum Tower in Fengyang County, Anhui province, came crashing down on Monday evening, sending debris close to bystanders. Eyewitness videos highlighted the dramatic moment of the collapse, which fortunately resulted in no reported injuries. The incident transpired at approximately 18:30 local time, prompting immediate responses from local authorities.
Built in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty and refurbished in 1995, the Drum Tower is an important historical landmark, recognized as China’s largest of its kind. The county, known as the birthplace of the Ming Dynasty’s founder, Zhu Yuanzhang, has been alerted to the incident, and an official investigation has begun to ascertain the reasons behind the structure's failure.
Local officials acted quickly to secure the area, evacuating onlookers and obstructing access to the site. Their focus is now on assessing the recent repairs and examining the integrity of the structure's construction. Experts have been called in alongside supervision units to support the inquiry's findings.
The Drum Tower is currently closed to the public as repair work is set to commence, with local authorities assuring that an update on its reopening will be provided soon. This incident raises concerns about the preservation of historical architecture in China and the safety of cultural heritage sites.
