Taiwan court orders $72,000 in damages for fatal scenic platform collapse

A court in Taiwan has ordered the Alishan Township Office to pay over NT$2.18 million (approximately $72,000) in damages following the collapse of a scenic platform's wooden deck. The incident, which occurred in November 2024, resulted in a tourist suffering severe injuries.

The accident happened at a viewing platform adjacent to the Fumei Suspension Bridge in Shanmei Village, Alishan Township. A group of five retired civil servants from Miaoli County were walking on the platform's access walkway when the wooden planks suddenly broke and detached. This caused them to fall approximately 3 meters to the ground. A 76-year-old woman died from her injuries, while the other four, including the plaintiff, were hospitalized but not in life-threatening condition.

The injured tourist, identified as Ms. Lu, 62, sued the township office, seeking compensation for medical expenses and lost income due to traumatic spinal fractures. She claimed damages totaling over NT$2.18 million.

The court found that the Alishan Township Office, as the managing authority for the bridge and platform, was negligent in its duty of care. While the township office argued that safety inspections were conducted every two years and a professional assessment had taken place in 2024, the court noted that the inspection had only covered the suspension bridge itself, not the adjacent platform. Crucially, the court determined that the township office had long failed to conduct substantive safety checks on the platform's internal components, allowing internal structural damage to worsen. The lack of warning signs or visitor limits further contributed to the accident.

Based on the principle of state compensation, the court ruled that the township office must bear responsibility for the damages, ordering the payment of medical and other related expenses to Ms. Lu.