Oil Tanker and Cement Truck Collision in Beiliu Kills 3
A devastating collision between an oil tanker and a cement truck in Beiliu, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has left three people dead, according to an official police statement. The accident occurred on the evening of June 22 at the Zhennan Village intersection on National Highway 359 in Liujing Town, and both vehicles caught fire on impact.
The Incident
At approximately 21:30 local time, the oil tanker and bulk cement truck collided at the Zhennan Village intersection on National Highway 359, near the Chenxiang (Agarwood) Industrial Park. According to eyewitness accounts cited by Sohu News, a massive fire erupted instantly upon impact, with thick smoke and towering flames visible from a considerable distance. The oil tanker was carrying flammable materials, while the cement truck was a large, heavy vehicle with significant blind spots and extended braking distances — a combination that local observers noted would inevitably lead to severe consequences.
According to CCTV News, emergency services including public security, fire departments, emergency response teams, and health authorities were dispatched immediately to the scene. Firefighters worked for approximately two hours to bring the blaze under control, finally extinguishing the flames at 23:38.
Liujing Town, where the accident occurred, is located in the southern part of Beiliu City near the border with Guangdong Province. National Highway 359 is a major arterial road running through Guangxi, connecting numerous cities and towns, and carries significant heavy vehicle traffic including hazardous material transports.
Casualties and Response
The Beiliu Public Security Bureau confirmed that all three occupants of the vehicles died in the accident. Crucially, no injuries or deaths were reported among bystanders or surrounding residents. The official police statement, published via the bureau’s WeChat account “北流公安” and carried by multiple news outlets, expressed condolences and confirmed that follow-up operations are proceeding in an orderly manner.
The Paper reported that the police statement was released at approximately 11:43 on June 23, with CCTV News publishing the official notification shortly afterward at 11:54. The incident has drawn significant public attention, with online discussions focusing on road safety conditions on National Highway 359.
Broader Context and Concerns
The accident has reignited concerns about hazardous material transport on Chinese national highways. Netizens commenting on the incident have raised pointed questions about nighttime driving safety, with one asking whether the lighting on National Highway 359 is sufficient, noting that previous reports had already highlighted safety hazards on this road after dark.
This tragedy comes just 12 days after a major explosion in Xing’an County, also in Guangxi, which killed seven people and injured 17 on June 11. The back-to-back incidents have heightened public awareness of safety challenges in the region, particularly involving heavy vehicles and hazardous cargo.
Beiliu, a county-level city under the administration of Yulin, is known for its ceramics industry and agricultural production. The accident site at the Zhennan Village intersection is in a semi-rural area where large trucks frequently travel to and from industrial facilities.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the collision. The official police statement did not specify whether the drivers were among the three deceased or provide details about the specific cargo the oil tanker was carrying. There is also a minor discrepancy in reporting: while the official police statement places the accident at 21:30, some media reports cited the time as approximately 22:30, possibly reflecting the chaos of the immediate aftermath.
The Beiliu Public Security Bureau has confirmed that follow-up investigation and disposal operations are continuing, though no timeline for further announcements has been provided.
What to Watch For
As the investigation proceeds, attention is likely to focus on road safety infrastructure along National Highway 359, particularly nighttime lighting conditions. The incident may also prompt renewed scrutiny of safety protocols for hazardous material transportation in the region, including whether additional safety measures such as mandatory collision-avoidance systems should be required for tanker trucks.
Questions remain about the identities of the deceased, the specific type of fuel or chemicals the oil tanker was carrying, and what concrete safety measures will be implemented to prevent similar tragedies. The accident serves as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in transporting flammable materials on busy national highways, especially under nighttime conditions where visibility is reduced and reaction times are critical.