At least 3 dead and 7 injured as street billboard falls from fifth floor in Kunming

On the evening of July 22nd, a street-facing shop billboard fell in Kunming, Yunnan, causing at least 3 deaths and 7 injuries. Following the incident, family members of the victims stated that one of their daughters was killed and another injured in the accident, with no one taking responsibility in the 10 hours that followed.

At 9:58 pm on July 22nd, a first-floor shop billboard along Jinjiang Road, No. 156-6 to 156-10 in the Panlong District of Kunming, Yunnan fell from the 5th floor, resulting in at least 10 people injured at the scene. Among them, 3 were pronounced dead after being sent to the hospital, while the rest of the injured are still undergoing treatment.

Witnesses described the incident as occurring during a peak hour with sudden screams and calls for help echoing in the air as the billboard collapsed, creating a heart-wrenching scene.

Some netizens who witnessed the scene mentioned that over a hundred passersby rushed to lift the sign to rescue people. Upon the sudden fall of the billboard, those dining below were mostly injured, with many children covered in blood being pulled out from under the sign.

A mother of one of the injured children shared a video, revealing that 3 children were hurt in the accident, with one of her 6-year-old and another child confirmed dead, while the other 4-year-old child is still in ICU. However, even after 10 hours, no one has come forward to take responsibility for the incident, as reported by netizens who claimed the video was horrifyingly marked as “unavailable” moments after viewing.

According to informed netizens, the mother had taken her two daughters out to eat when the incident occurred. Tragically, one of the daughters was killed by the falling billboard, and the other is fighting for her life in the hospital. Doctors have warned the mother to be prepared for the worst.

Additionally, netizens revealed that the mother herself hailed a taxi to rush her children to the hospital, while her husband also suffered severe concussion from the incident.

Many netizens expressed sympathy for the mother’s harrowing experience, pondering how she would cope with the loss of one child and the critical condition of another. Some remarked on the mother’s calm demeanor in the video, noting the fragility of such situations and calling for support for the grieving family.

Questioning the rule of law in society, some netizens asked why such tragic incidents occur and lamented the lack of accountability in the aftermath of the billboard collapse. They expressed shock at the absence of responsibility in the face of the tragic event, highlighting the bureaucratic procedures involved in approving billboard installations and the societal failure to address the situation promptly.

Several netizens emphasized the dangers posed by billboards, citing similar incidents in Zhongshan, Guangdong, where people were killed or severely injured by falling billboards. Shareholders shared personal stories of individuals suffering debilitating injuries or losing their lives due to billboard accidents, underscoring the urgent need for safety measures and accountability in such cases.