A centuries-old drum tower in eastern China scattered hundreds of roof tiles onto the ground below, sending visitors scrambling for safety as the architectural fragments plummeted more than two stories and kicked up clouds of dust. The dramatic incident at the historic Fengyang Drum Tower occurred Monday but resulted in no reported injuries, CNN confirmed.
Tiles fell from the ancient Drum Tower in Fengyang, #Anhui Province, on May 19. The tower, originally built in 1375 and rebuilt in 1995, had been under renovation since late 2023. Local authorities are investigating the incident. #architecture #China pic.twitter.com/h5U2ABXZLn
— Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) May 20, 2025
Built in 1375 during the Ming dynasty, the Fengyang Drum Tower stands as one of China's largest such structures and serves as a major tourist destination in Anhui province, located approximately 200 miles from Beijing. Traditionally, these towers announced ceremonial beginnings and marked the time of day.
Eyewitness accounts described a chaotic scene as the aging roof materials broke loose. "The tile falling lasted for a minute or two," one witness told Yangcheng Evening News. The cascade of architectural debris generated substantial dust clouds visible in video footage of the incident.
Another bystander recounted the distinctive sounds that preceded the collapse. "There was no one in the square and no one was injured," he explained to state media outlet The Beijing News. The witness added: "If it happened a little later, there would be many children playing (near the tower) after dinner."
Local authorities have launched an investigation into the structural failure, with the culture and tourism bureau stating that the "situation is under investigation." This incident comes just one year after renovation work addressed previous minor damage to the tower's roof.
Officials clarified that the damage primarily affected the upper portion of the structure rather than its original Ming-era base. While the foundation dates to the 14th century, the upper section underwent reconstruction in 1995, creating a two-part architectural composition.
