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Investigation begins as collapse death toll rises to
six 2.
Probe launched into fatal collapse 3.
Missing workers located in the collapsed building 4.
Investigation Team to probe building collapse incident
1. Investigation begins as collapse death toll rises to six
The Buildings Department has begun an investigation into whether the contractor
demolishing the Yau Tong industrial building that collapsed killing six workers
violated work procedures. The probe was announced yesterday as searchers found
the body of the last of the four men trapped in the debris. Rescuers believe it
could take up to two days to recover their bodies. The dead also included a man
who was pulled from the rubble shortly after Monday's collapse, and a critically
injured 45-year-old worker who lost his fight for life last night. Director of
Buildings Leung Chin-man said his department would investigate seven possible
factors in the collapse of the Asia Trade Centre at 19 Sze Shan Street, which
also injured nine people. The probe, to last three to four weeks, would try to
find out whether: The structure was unsafe before demolition; Structures had been
added before demolition; Overweight machines were on the building's platforms;
Concrete parts supporting the structure had been removed during demolition; The
contractor and workers followed the demolition plans approved by the Buildings
Department; There was insufficient supervision and Piles were removed or disturbed
before demolition. "We are determined to prosecute if the investigation reveals
that any parties did not follow demolition procedures approved by the department,''
Mr Leung said. Recommendations would also be made on ways to prevent future collapses.
Two industrial buildings next to the demolition site remained cordoned off yesterday,
for fear that the remains of the Asia Trade Centre could collapse further. Bulldozers
and rock-crushers were working to clear debris. Meanwhile, the Buildings Department
inspected 48 other demolition sites to check for hazards. The Asia Trade Centre,
which formerly housed dyeing and electronics factories, collapsed inwards at about
11.12am on Monday. Three of the injured have been discharged from United Christian
Hospital. Four others, aged 35 to 73, were in a stable condition last night. [Source:
SCMP, 31 October 2001] 2.
Probe launched into fatal collapse
A three-man team has been set up to investigate the collapse on Monday of a Yau
Tong industrial building that left up to six workers dead and eight injured. The
move by the Buildings Department came as firefighters located the bodies of four
missing workers at the Asian Trade Centre. Detectors indicated there were no signs
of life under the debris of the building, which was being demolished at the time
of the accident. The body of worker Siu Wong-sang, 43, was pulled from the rubble
on Monday. Yuen Kwok-wah, 45, who was admitted in critical condition on Monday,
died at United Christian Hospital last night. Extra heavy machinery was taken
to the scene last night to help clear the heavy concrete chunks before the bodies
would be removed from the site. Director of Buildings Leung Chin-man said Assistant
Director of Buildings Cheung Kwok-ming would lead the investigation team that
would also include a chief structural engineer and a chief building surveyor.
The team would identify the causes of the incident and whether anyone had committed
an offence under the Buildings Ordinance, he said. It would also make recommendations
to prevent similar incidents. Mr Leung said the team would focus on providing
answers to questions that included the structural condition of the building before
demolition and any alterations and work carried out when it was in use. The team
would find out if the building had been overloaded with an unacceptable amount
of debris and demolition machines during the operation, if there had been any
tampering with temporary supports and would look at how the work was carried out.
It would also determine if adequate supervision had been provided and whether
support columns had been subjected to heavy impact or had been mistakenly removed
before and during the operation. Mr Leung said it would be unfair to speculate
about the cause of the tragedy until the investigation was complete in three to
four weeks. "I wish to reiterate again that we don't have any conclusion at this
moment on what exactly the cause of the building collapse was," he said. "It is
also not the right time and place to start making allegations on who is to blame."
Firefighters located four workers, two of them buried under a huge pile of debris
at the back of a dump truck and bulldozer near the Sze Shan Street exit of the
building site. "We are unable to reach the workers buried under the rubble and
there is the risk of further collapse in the site," said the Fire Services Department's
Kowloon Central divisional commander, Cheung Wai-wah. Five injured workers were
stable and three discharged from hospital last night. [Source:
SCMP, 31 October 2001] 3.
Missing workers located in the collapsed building
Two missing workers were located under the debris of the collapsed building at
Sze Shan Street, Yau Tong shortly after midnight. Efforts are being made to remove
them from the debris. Search operation is still going on today (October 30). [Source:
Hong Kong Government, 30 October 2001] 4.
Investigation Team to probe building collapse incident
The Buildings Department will set up a three-member team to investigate the collapse
of a factory building under demolition at No. 19 Sze Shan Street in Yau Tong yesterday,
the Director of Buildings, Mr. Leung Chin-man, announced. Speaking at a press
conference today (Tuesday), Mr. Leung said that the team would be headed by the
Assistant Director of Buildings with overall responsibility for structural engineering
matters, Mr. Cheung Kwok-ming. The other two members are a Chief Structural Engineer
and a Chief Building Surveyor from the department. "We take a very serious view
on this incident and will not hesitate to take firm action against those responsible,"
Mr. Leung stressed. He said that the investigation team would identify the causes
of the incident and whether any one had committed an offence under the Buildings
Ordinance. It would also make recommendations to prevent similar incidents in
the future. The investigation will focus on:- 1. Structural condition of the building
before demolition; 2. Whether there were alteration and addition works carried
out during the life of the building, which might affect its structural adequacy;
3. Whether the building had been overloaded with unacceptable amount of debris
and machines in the demolition operation; 4. Whether any temporary propping had
been tampered with in the demolition operation; 5. Whether the demolition work
had been carried out in the manner specified in the approved demolition plan;
6. Whether adequate supervision on the demolition work had been provided; and
7. Whether any supporting columns had been subjected to heavy impact or mistakenly
removed before and during the demolition operation, which might affect its structural
adequacy. "The team will complete its investigation in about three to four weeks,"
Mr. Leung said. He added that staff of the department was conducting inspections
on 48 sites where consent had been given for commencement of demolition work all
over the territory to ensure safety procedures were strictly adhered to. "The
exercise is expected to be completed today," he said. [Source:
Hong Kong Government, 30 October 2001] | 
