Tourists were forced to flee for cover as parts of the roof of China’s centuries-old Drum Tower dramatically collapsed on Monday evening in Fengyang County, Anhui province.
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Footage from the scene shows hundreds of tiles crashing to the ground, narrowly missing visitors below. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported.
CHINA: China’s Fengyang Drum Tower, a historic landmark originally constructed in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty, has collapsed barely a year after undergoing a major restoration in Anhui province. pic.twitter.com/LaBFkRSWB8
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The Drum Tower, originally constructed in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty, is regarded as the largest of its kind in China, reports BBC. It underwent significant reconstruction in 1995.
Local officials have launched an investigation into the collapse, focusing on the structure’s recent repair work.
Experts and supervision teams have been dispatched to assist with the inquiry, according to a statement issued via WeChat by the Fengyang County Culture and Tourism Bureau.
Bystanders were promptly cleared from the area and the site has been cordoned off.
The tower is closed with a reopening date yet to be confirmed.
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