A two-storey building collapsed yesterday in the section of Taiwan Avenue in the Central District of Taichung City, crushing three people who were working in a neighboring house.

The builder surnamed Gu and the driver of the excavator surnamed You who were in charge of the construction were transferred to investigation for the crime of negligent death.

(Photo by reporter Liao Yaodong)

[Central News Agency] A two-storey building in Section 1, Taiwan Avenue, Central District, Taichung City collapsed yesterday, crushing 3 construction workers in a neighboring house. The police rescued Cai Nan and Wu Nan, but both died. Chen Nan also died when they rescued Chen Nan in the early morning of this morning.

The builder surnamed Gu and the driver of the excavator surnamed You who were in charge of the construction were transferred to investigation for the crime of negligent death.

The Taichung Fire Department received a report at 10:44 am yesterday that a house collapsed at Lane 299, Section 1, Taiwan Avenue, Central District, Taichung City. The 3 workers who were working next to it immediately sent firefighters to rescue them.

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Firefighters arrived and first rescued a 51-year-old man surnamed Cai at 11:15 a.m. yesterday, but there was no sign of life. He was rushed to the Taichung Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and died after emergency treatment. The other two trapped workers were buried deep in the rubble. , due to the soft soil and rocks, the use of large machinery may cause another collapse, so the fire department dispatched search and rescue dogs to assist in the rescue.

The search and rescue personnel found the hair and hands of the second trapped worker at 3:30 pm yesterday, and the head was exposed until 5 pm in the evening. The third worker was found at 8:18 pm yesterday.

The search and rescue personnel continued to use chainsaws and other equipment to break down the iron roof, or dig and move earth and rocks with bare hands, until 10:55 last night, and rescued the second worker surnamed Wu who was trapped. Three workers surnamed Chen were rescued, but two died.

This industrial safety accident caused by the collapse of an old house resulted in the death of 3 workers. The Taichung City police interviewed the builder surnamed Gu and the driver of the excavator surnamed You who were in charge of the construction yesterday afternoon. Prosecutor's office.

Prosecutors also went to the scene to investigate yesterday to clarify the cause of the accident.

Taichung Mayor Lu Xiuyan went to pay attention to the progress of the rescue and condolences to the family members yesterday evening.

When she was interviewed by the media at the time, she said that the city government must rescue to the last second and never give up.

Lin Yuxin, chairman of the Taichung Civil Engineers Association, explained that Building No. 7 was originally under construction. A trench about 100 cm deep and 60 cm wide was dug, which caused the No. 5 building next door to suddenly decompress and collapse to the right due to insufficient support strength. However, The actual cause can only be confirmed after the construction site is cleared.

The Taichung City Labor Bureau stated that the demolition of private buildings is under the jurisdiction of the Central District Occupational Safety Center of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Ministry of Labor.

The Metropolitan Development Bureau of Taichung City pointed out that the collapsed building was located at No. 5, Lane 299, Section 1, Taiwan Boulevard. It was preliminarily judged that Building No. 7 on the side was involved in improper construction, which caused the collapse of Building No. 5. It will be ordered to stop construction in accordance with the construction law. .