Buzzing with tourists, roof tiles of 650 year old tower collapses in eastern China

ISTANBUL

A 650-year-old tower's roof tiles in eastern China collapsed in a few minutes while tourists were milling around its walls.

Numerous videos of the incident on social media showed the collapse of the tiles in the Fengyang Drum Tower beginning from the lower half of the roof, with sections from the top also giving way. The tiles then crashed to the ground, subsequently causing a large cloud of dust.

The incident in Anhui Province, occurring on Monday, caused no injuries and is under investigation, according to the state-media Global Times citing the Fengyang tourism authority.

The tower had gone under a repair project from 2023 till March 2024.

The tower, made up of the foundation and building, was built in 1375 and is accepted as the largest existing one in China by officials.

The current building was rebuilt in 1995 after the original part was destroyed in 1853.