Kaohsiung awning collapse sparks criticism over handling; officials cite pre-demolition fall

An awning at a shop in Kaohsiung's Yuzhu shopping district collapsed late Tuesday night, sending the metal structure and an air conditioning unit crashing to the ground. Fortunately, no pedestrians were in the vicinity at the time of the incident.

Local businesses had expressed concern for over a week, having cordoned off the area themselves due to the awning's visible tilt. They complained about the lack of timely response from authorities and the difficulty in contacting the property owner for repairs. Residents also voiced frustration, stating that the Public Works Bureau and the Construction Management Office were notified of the immediate danger but cited the structure as private property requiring payment for removal.

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The owner agreed to hire a contractor for demolition, and there was no issue of the neighborhood chief being unable to contact the owner.

However, the Kaohsiung City Illegal Building Division clarified that they inspected the site last week. They asserted that the owner had agreed to hire a contractor for demolition and that the awning fell just before the scheduled removal. The division stated that the owner is responsible for the maintenance of their property.

Contractors have since been dispatched to clear the fallen debris. The division noted that the owner had previously requested their assistance after the tenant vacated the premises, and had agreed to cover the costs associated with the removal. The owner is now responsible for handling the debris.

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The owner is responsible for the maintenance of their own building.