At least 35 people lost their lives and dozens were injured in a devastating incident in Zhuhai, southeastern China, where a man allegedly angered by his divorce drove his vehicle into a crowd.
Authorities reported that the tragic event occurred outside a popular sports center on Monday evening, where locals had gathered for their usual evening exercise.
Disturbing images capture the aftermath, showing victims sprawled on the ground as stunned bystanders rushed to help. The 62-year-old suspect, identified by his surname, Fan, was apprehended while attempting to escape but fell into a coma from self-inflicted injuries, according to police.
Fan reportedly unleashed the violent attack in a fit of rage, triggered by a recent property settlement from his divorce. Video footage circulating on social media shows the chaotic scene, with exercise-clad victims lying motionless near the running track of the Zhuhai sports center.
Originally built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the facility has become a hub for community activities, now forever scarred by the tragedy that unfolded.
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Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene at the Zhuhai sports center, where a crowd of mostly middle-aged and elderly people exercising on the track became victims of a deliberate ramming incident.
The area was soon swarmed by investigators, with police confirming that “a passenger car struck several pedestrians at the sports center in Zhuhai City’s Xiangzhou District before fleeing.”
One witness, Mr. Chen, part of a local walking group, shared with Caixin magazine how a speeding car veered towards them, mowing down multiple individuals. “It drove in a loop, causing injuries all around the track—east, south, west, and north,” added a second witness.
Emergency response quickly mobilized, with Zhuhai’s Shang Chong Hospital admitting those with minor injuries, many of whom left after treatment. Zhuhai People’s Hospital also attended to the injured, though no official count was given. Efforts to reach other local hospitals for updates went unanswered.
The victims ranged widely in age, from elderly citizens to teenagers and children. Disturbing video clips circulated, showing a firefighter administering CPR to one individual and the wounded sprawled across the track.
News blogger Li Ying, widely known as Teacher Li on X, shared the clips, including a heart-wrenching moment when a woman exclaimed, “My foot is broken.”
Despite public outcry, discussions of the incident were heavily censored on Chinese social media by Tuesday morning, coinciding with the high-profile Zhuhai Airshow.
A search for the Zhuhai sports center on Weibo yielded only sparse references, with just a few vague mentions and no photos or detailed reports. Articles by Chinese media covering the incident from Monday night had also disappeared shortly afterward.
China’s internet censors have been quick to tighten controls on social media, especially ahead of major events like the annual National People’s Congress, when the government unveils key policy plans for the coming year.
The Xiangzhou District sports center, usually bustling with locals who use its track, soccer field, and social dance area, has since announced its closure until further notice.
The center regularly draws hundreds of residents who come for exercise and community activities, making the tragedy even more devastating.
Deadly vehicle accidents are an all-too-common occurrence in China, where safety standards and driving discipline are often insufficiently enforced. Just recently in September, six people lost their lives in Hunan Province when a car veered out of control, colliding with cyclists and vehicles on a bridge.
That same month, a school bus in eastern China drove into a crowd outside a middle school, tragically killing 11 parents and children. Similarly, a vehicle crash in Changsha in July left eight dead and five injured after striking pedestrians.