21-05-2025
Tourists flee as roof collapses off 650-year-old building in China: Video
Tourists flee as roof collapses off 650-year-old building in China: Video
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Roof of historic Fengyang Drum Tower in China collapses
Tourists scrambled as the roof of the historic Fengyang Drum Tower in China collapsed. No one was injured.
The Fengyang Drum Tower in China partially collapsed on May 19, with nearby tourists seen scrambling as roof tiles went flying from the 650-year-old building.
No injuries were reported, the Fengyang County Culture and Tourism Bureau said.
The tower is in Fengyang County, which is within China's Anhui Province and about 600 miles south of Beijing. The building was originally built in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty.
The Fengyang County Culture and Tourism Bureau said it is investigating the incident. It also said the building has undergone maintenance in recent years due to "worsening damage and safety hazards."
Watch: Roof of Fengyang Drum Tower in China partially collapses
The moment when some roof tiles on the Fengyang Drum Tower came loose and caused it to partially collapse was caught on video.
In the video, tiles are seen falling from the building's roof onto its base, in the direction where tourists stood below.
Large dusts of smoke from the falling debris were also emitted during the moment of impact.
China's Fengyang Drum Tower dates back more than 600 years
The Drum Tower was built in 1375 during the eighth year of the Hongwu Emperor's reign of the Ming Dynasty in China, according to the Fengyang County Culture and Tourism Bureau.
The original building was destroyed in 1853, during the Xianfeng Emperor's reign of the Qing Dynasty. The current building was rebuilt in 1995, according to FCCTB.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
