Taichung Construction Site Causes Neighboring Building to Tilt; Work Halted

A serious construction mishap in Taichung City's Longjing District has led to a precarious situation, with a neighboring residential building tilting significantly and requiring support from 12 steel columns. The incident, which also caused a large section of the nearby road to collapse, has prompted immediate action from the city's Urban Development Bureau. The bureau, in conjunction with the Taichung Structural Engineers Association, has ordered the construction site to cease operations.

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The construction site next to the residential building on Sha-tien Road, Section 5, Longjing District, Taichung City, has caused the ground to subside, and the building is supported by 12 steel columns.

The investigation points towards a potential issue with underground pipelines, specifically a suspected leak from a 200mm water main, as the primary cause of the ground subsidence. This leakage is believed to have led to soil erosion beneath the foundation of the adjacent building, resulting in its tilt and the subsequent road collapse. The situation is particularly concerning as the affected building has already experienced significant sinking, forcing some residents to relocate to rental housing.

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The construction project began excavation on July 10 last year. Due to inadequate safety measures, the neighboring house subsided. We ordered a halt to construction, and the developer submitted a revised improvement plan. After third-party consultation and on-site re-inspection by the structural engineers association, the Urban Development Bureau approved the resumption of work on October 20 last year. However, the damage to neighboring properties remained under review, and then a collapse and water outage occurred.

This incident raises critical questions about construction safety protocols and infrastructure management in Taichung. While the construction project had reportedly received approval to resume work after an initial incident last year, the ongoing issues underscore the need for rigorous oversight. The city government has emphasized that the building permit will not be finalized until the matter is fully resolved, ensuring that the safety of residents and the integrity of surrounding structures are prioritized. The water company is working to repair the damaged pipeline and restore normal water supply, while the construction site remains halted until the cause of the road collapse is definitively determined.

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The rupture of a 200mm water pipeline caused the incident. Eight households experienced a water outage, which has now been restored to normal. The construction project has been ordered to halt work and cooperate in clarifying the cause of the road collapse.