At least 35 people lost their lives, and 43 others were injured when a 62-year-old driver crashed his vehicle into individuals exercising at a sports center in Zhuhai, a city in southern China, according to media reports on Monday. Police detained the driver soon after the incident even though it was still unclear if the incident was intentional or accidental by the drive.
Security personnel were stationed near the sports center following the incident, which occurred just one day before the Zhuhai Airshow organized by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which began on Tuesday.
The driver, identified by his family name Fan, was reported by AP. Staff at the emergency department of Zhuhai’s Shang Chong Hospital noted that some injured individuals came for treatment but later left.
Social media footage showed a firefighter performing CPR on a victim, while others were asked to clear the area. These videos were shared by news blogger and dissident Li Ying, known on X as Teacher Li, who regularly posts news updates from user submissions. In the videos, dozens of people were seen lying on the running track; one woman was heard saying, “my foot is broken.”
On Weibo, only a few posts about the sports center mentioned the incident, without images or detailed information. Chinese media articles covering the incident on Monday night were reportedly removed, as noted by media.
The Xiangzhou district sports center, a popular spot for local residents to run, play soccer, and social dance, announced its closure until further notice. China has experienced several incidents where random people, including schoolchildren, were targeted in similar attacks.
In October, a 50-year-old man was detained for allegedly attacking children with a knife at a Beijing school, injuring five. In September, three people were killed in a knife attack at a Shanghai supermarket.
