[Objective] Karst collapse is one of the main environmental geological problems in the Yangtze River Economic Zone. The study on the distribution and causes of karst collapse in the Yangtze River Economic Zone and its impact on engineering construction is of great significance to the geological environment security guarantee of the construction of three-dimensional comprehensive transportation corridor and the new urbanization construction in the Yangtze River Economic Zone. [Methods] This paper systematically combs the research results of karst collapse in the Yangtze River Economic Zone, and discusses the characteristics of karst environment, the causes and mechanisms of karst collapse, the development and distribution laws, the impact on engineering construction, and the prevention and control measures. [Results] The research results show that the area prone to karst collapse in the Yangtze River economic zone is about 254000 square kilometers, and there are 2146 recorded karst collapse disasters. Mine drainage, water pumping, engineering construction are the main inducing factors of karst collapse in this area. The karst collapse in the Yangtze River economic zone has the following development and distribution laws: first, it has regional and zonal distribution characteristics; Second, the developed strata are generally uniform pure carbonate rocks, which are distributed along the fracture zone, fracture development zone of fold axis, contact zone of soluble rock and non-soluble rock and other karst cave fissure dense development zones; Third, it mostly occurs in the strong runoff zone of karst groundwater, the river banks and other sections where the groundwater level changes greatly and the hydrodynamic conditions are prone to rapid changes; Fourth, most of them occur in areas with strong human engineering activities. The scale of collapse depends on the nature and intensity of human activities. In order to reduce the impact of karst collapse on project construction and safe operation, this paper also puts forward relevant suggestions and countermeasures. [Conclusions] Karst collapse in the Yangtze River Economic Zone is widely distributed and harmful. The planning and construction of linear projects and important urban agglomerations in high risk areas should pay attention to this environmental geological problem. The research results can provide basic support and theoretical basis for land space planning and geological disaster prevention in the Yangtze River Economic Zone.