Building collapses, leaving four dead in Hong Kong
Monday, February 1, 2010
A decades-old building collapsed along Ma Tau Wai Road in Hong Kong at about 1:30pm on Friday, local time. That building was located at 45J, Ma Tau Wai Road in Hung Hom. A shop on its ground floor was undergoing renovations when the building collapsed. The street was full of dust afterwards. Firefighters arrived at the scene to search survivors and they asked residents in the buildings nearby to evacuate the area. Those buildings included 45G and 45H.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang called for an investigation into the cause of the building collapse. He aimed at preventing similar incidents. The government required all old buildings with similar structures to undergo inspection, according to Secretary for Development Carrie Lam.
The government has confirmed that four people were dead in the incident. Rescue efforts ended on Saturday morning when the government confirmed that no one was missing. Lam visited the scene on Saturday afternoon and sought advice from the police and Buildings Department. The police has started its investigation into the incident. Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung said that the government would do its best to meet the victims' needs.
The collapsed building was more than 50 years old. The government had inspected its five-storey structure before the incident and had ordered repairs. After the tragedy, the government announced that it would inspect buildings older than 50 years in one month. The government has restricted access to buildings at 45G and 45H as they were in danger.
In pictures
A building collapsed on January 29. The photo shows that follow-up measures were still in progress at 3:30pm on January 31, two days after the accident. Structures of buildings near the affected area were strengthened.)
A building collapsed on January 29. The photo shows that follow-up measures were still in progress at 3:30pm on January 31, two days after the accident. Structures of buildings near the affected area were strengthened
A closer look at the damage to the buildings nearby along Ma Tau Wai Road at 3:38pm on January 31.
A closer look at the damage to the buildings nearby along Ma Tau Wai Road at 3:38pm on 31 January 2010.
S.K.H. Holy Carpenter Church has been the temporary home for the victims in the collapse along Ma Tau Wai Road since 29 January 2010. The photo was taken at 4:35pm on 31 January 2010.S.K.H. Holy Carpenter Church has been the temporary home for the victims in the collapse along Ma Tau Wai Road since 29 January 2010. The photo was taken at 4:35pm on 31 January 2010.
The photo was taken at a minibus stop along Tak Man Street at 4:32pm on January 31. The fund-raising campaign lasted one day when passengers of minibuses needed to pay cash and the cash would all be collected for the victims of the building collapse along Ma Tau Wai Road.The photo was taken at a minibus stop along Tak Man Street at 4:32pm on January 31. The fund-raising campaign lasted one day when passengers of minibuses needed to pay cash and the cash would all be collected for the victims of the building collapse along Ma Tau Wai Road.
The bus of route 6C passed the stop at Man Tai Street temporarily because of the Ma Tau Wai Road tragedy. The photo was taken at 4:05pm on 31 January 2010.The bus of route 6C passed the stop at Man Tai Street temporarily because of the Ma Tau Wai Road tragedy. The photo was taken at 4:05pm on January 31.
The collapsed building was along Ma Tau Wai Road. The surrounding buildings might be in danger. The photo shows the situation at 11:40pm on January 29 .The collapsed building was along Ma Tau Wai Road. The surrounding buildings might be in danger. The photo shows the situation at 11:40pm on 29 January 2010.
No traffic was allowed along Ma Tau Wai Road because of collapsing buildings. The photo shows the road at 11:29pm on January 29.No traffic was allowed along Ma Tau Wai Road because of collapsing buildings. The photo shows the road at 11:29pm on January 29.
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