Multiple students were injured Tuesday morning after a car struck a group outside a primary school in Changde, a city in central China’s Hunan province, according to state news agency Xinhua.

Authorities have not disclosed the exact number of those injured but confirmed that all victims were taken to a hospital for treatment. None of the injuries were reported to be life-threatening, according to a local police statement.

The incident occurred just outside the school premises, causing chaos among students and staff. A 39-year-old male suspect was apprehended at the scene, and the case is under active investigation, police said.

Panic and Distress at the Scene

Videos circulating on social media, which have since been verified and geolocated, showed scenes of panic as children screamed and ran into the schoolyard. A man’s voice can be heard shouting, “Quickly, quickly,” urging others to move to safety.

Other footage depicted injured individuals, including adults, lying on the road. Police officers were seen handcuffing a man in front of a vehicle believed to be involved in the crash.

While these images gained brief attention online, they were swiftly removed from Chinese social media platforms. Comments sections on related posts were also disabled, reflecting ongoing efforts to control public discourse around the incident.

Rising Concerns Over Public Safety

The crash comes on the heels of a series of violent incidents across China that have unsettled the public. Just over a week ago, 35 people were killed in Zhuhai when a man drove his car into a crowd exercising at an outdoor sports center. Days later, a mass stabbing on a college campus in eastern China left eight dead and 17 injured.

These high-profile attacks, targeting random members of the public, have sparked widespread concern about public safety. Economic struggles and societal pressures are being cited as contributing factors behind these acts of violence, with online users describing them as acts of “revenge against society.”

Tuesday’s crash also echoes other recent incidents involving school children, including a stabbing near a Beijing elementary school in October and a bus crash outside a school in Shandong province in September, which killed 11 and injured 13.

Social media discussions surrounding these events have highlighted growing unease, with many users urging vigilance in public spaces. Comments from users on since-deleted posts expressed dismay over the targeting of children, with one writing, “How can someone target kids to get back at society?”

As the investigation into Tuesday’s crash continues, authorities are under pressure to address public safety concerns amid a noticeable rise in violent incidents.

In the heart of China’s Kubuqi Desert, nearly 200,000 solar panels form the outline of a galloping horse, a cultural emblem of Inner Mongolia. Beyond its symbolic significance, the installation reflects China’s ambitious push toward renewable energy as the nation works to combat climate change and transform its energy landscape.

China is installing wind and solar energy projects at an unprecedented pace, accounting for two-thirds of the world’s utility-scale capacity under construction. With nearly 339 gigawatts of projects underway, the country is set to generate enough electricity to power over 250 million homes, according to the Global Energy Monitor. This is in addition to the 758 gigawatts of renewable capacity already operational.

A Global Climate Leader

As the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, China has a pivotal role in global efforts to combat climate change. While emissions from the nation remain high—accounting for nearly a third of the global total—there are signs of a slowdown. Experts, including senior U.S. officials, believe China’s emissions could soon peak, potentially marking a turning point in the fight against climate change.

“China is now a global renewables powerhouse,” said Jonathan Pershing, former U.S. State Department climate diplomat. “The scale and speed of their wind and solar expansion are extraordinary and offer a model for other nations.”

China’s commitment to renewables has already exceeded targets. President Xi Jinping pledged to install 1,200 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2030—a goal achieved six years early. By the early 2030s, the International Energy Agency predicts China will generate more solar power than the U.S. consumes.

Balancing Progress with Challenges

While renewable energy is rapidly displacing coal as the dominant power source in China, the country continues to build new coal plants even as it retires older ones. Wind and solar currently account for 37% of China’s electricity generation, reducing coal’s share by over 17% in the past two decades.

Experts like John Podesta, White House senior advisor on climate policy, emphasize the need for further coal plant retirements. “China has the capacity to phase out coal at a faster pace, which would have enormous implications for global emissions,” Podesta said.

Toward Emissions Reductions

China has committed to peaking carbon emissions before 2030, but U.S. officials are urging a steeper reduction—30% by 2035. Achieving this would save 4.7 gigatons of carbon pollution, equivalent to the U.S.’s total annual emissions.

While independent analysis suggests a recent 1% drop in China’s emissions, experts caution against drawing conclusions too early. However, shifts in China’s economy—marked by slowing demand for industrial materials and growing investment in solar and electric vehicle production—indicate a broader transformation.

Li Shuo of the Asia Society Policy Institute noted the significance of China’s progress: “If China’s emissions plateau, global emissions will likely follow, marking a milestone in combating climate change. It’s an insufficient first step but an important one.”