The article text:

In a concerning incident, the roof of the historic Drum Tower in Fengyang County, Anhui Province, collapsed, sending hundreds of tiles crashing to the ground near startled visitors. Eyewitness footage captured the moment when sections of the roof gave way, luckily avoiding injury to any onlookers. Local media reported that the collapse occurred at approximately 18:30 local time on Monday.

The Drum Tower, known as the largest of its kind in China, dates back to 1375 during the Ming Dynasty, although it had undergone a significant renovation in 1995. Following the incident, officials from the Fengyang County Culture and Tourism Bureau confirmed that everyone at the site remained safe, and they quickly moved bystanders away from the area.

In a statement shared on China's popular instant messaging app, WeChat, local authorities announced that an investigation into the roof’s collapse was underway. This site, historically significant as the birthplace of the Ming Dynasty's founding emperor, Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, draws numerous visitors each year, and maintaining its safety is vital.

To assess the incident thoroughly, experts and supervision units have been dispatched to the site to review the design and construction of the renovation that took place nearly three decades ago. The Drum Tower will remain closed during the repair process, with an announcement regarding its reopening date expected to follow.