600-year-old roof of ancient tower in China suddenly collapsed

The incident occurred on May 19, 2025, at the Fengyang Drum Tower in Anhui Province, China. Most of the tiles on the top floor fell down, but the main building of the Drum Tower did not collapse. Fortunately, no one was injured because the square in front of the tower was empty at the time.

The local culture and tourism bureau is currently investigating the cause of the incident. Initial speculation suggests that it was partly due to a mismatch between traditional craftsmanship and modern materials. The incident occurred just a year after the tower’s last major restoration. According to the Fengyang County government, the damage was mainly to the upper structure, which was rebuilt in 1995, while the Ming Dynasty base remained intact. The damage this time was mainly to the rebuilt tower.

Built in 1375 during the Ming Dynasty, the Drum Tower was used to signal the time and open ceremonies. It is one of the largest towers in China and a popular local tourist attraction, about 320 km from Beijing./.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/mai-ngoi-thap-co-hon-600-nam-o-trung-quoc-bat-ngo-do-sap-post324356.html