Monday, April 13, 2015

CRANE WIRE ROPE FAILURE CAUSES THE DROPPING OF THE LOAD THAT KILLS 4, INJURES 4 IN TAICHUNG METRO CONSTRUCTION IN TAIWAN








APRIL 13, 2015

Four people died on Friday when the two crane tandem lift of a 43 meter long steel beam, went wrong, dropping it 12 meters into the road below.
The 43 meter steel box section, said to weigh 209 tons, is part of the elevated rail track for the new Taichung Mass Rail Transit System, in Taiwan.

The falling box landed on one car, killing the female driver outright, while three construction workers reportedly working inside the section were also killed. The drivers of four other cars, struck by the falling section were badly injured, one of them critically.

Both cranes managed to remain upright.

The cause of the incident has been blamed on a wire rope sling failure and poor distribution of the load between the two cranes, causing an overload situation. Video we have seen would seem to confirm that. See live link video report.

The recoil shock effect caused by the sudden release of the load, caused the crane to jump out of its outrigger pads, but miraculously it remained upright, inspite of the rear outriggers on one crane punching through the road surface.

 

One crane jumped out of its outrigger pads and punched a hole through the tarmac

Investigators will be looking at why a challenging lift such as this was carried out over an open road during the evening rush hour. One witness claims that the lift was brought forward to beat a Saturday deadline in order to avoid a financial penalty


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Taichung Metro collapse kills 4, injures 4

By Yuan-Ming Chiao ,The China Post

April 11, 2015, 12:02 am TWN

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A collapsed section of an under-construction elevated railway at a Taichung Mass Rail Transit System (Taichung Metro) construction site caused four deaths and four injuries late Friday afternoon; three of the dead were construction workers at the site. 

The injured victims were taken to China Medical University Hospital and Tzu Chi Hospital in Taichung. As of press time, emergency teams on the scene were attempting to raise the collapsed section in search for additional survivors and victims. One patient remains in a critical condition with major internal bleeding. 

The section broke apart and fell four stories, killing both construction workers and bystanders on the busy intersection of Wenxin Road (文心路) and Beitun Road (北屯路). The disaster area is situated between the future G4 and G5 stations of the Green Line, under construction since 2009. Witnesses indicate that the area was not immediately sealed off to traffic following the incident. 

Taichung City Mayor Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) canceled his business itinerary in South Korea in response to the incident, and was scheduled to return to Taiwan close to midnight. 

Cause of Collapse under Investigation

Due to initial reports, construction on the MRT was ongoing with the elevation of a steel rail when a 209-ton, 43-meter section of the elevated structure collapsed. The cause of the incident is under investigation, with scrutiny focusing on inadequate weight distribution for the construction crane. Initial analysis suggests that supporting wood pallets usually positioned at the base of the construction vehicle were not present. The construction firm operating the crane was unwilling to verify the vehicle's load capacity. 

Workers from the construction company told reporters later yesterday evening that work on raising the steel rail was being expedited to meet a 4 a.m. Saturday deadline from the Rapid Transit System Office of Taichung City (臺中市捷運工程處). The fine for delayed construction was reported to be NT$110,000.
The elevated section of the Taichung MRT Green Line was scheduled for completion in 2020. Mayor Lin demanded on Jan. 12 that construction be accelerated for a 2018 completion date. 

Taipei City Officials Dispatched to Assist

Meanwhile Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) called on Deputy Mayor Charles Lin (林欽榮) to coordinate with Taichung City Deputy Mayor Lin Ling-san (林陵三). Both Section Chief Chien Je-hung (簡哲宏) of the Taipei City Construction Management Office and Central District Project Office Director Yu Nien-hsin (余念梓) of Taipei's Department of Rapid Transit Systems (DORTS) arrived in Taichung later in the evening to coordinate rescue efforts.

In addition, Presidential Office spokesman Charles Chen (陳以信) stated that the president was paying full attention to the unfolding situation and immediately directed the Executive Yuan to provide necessary assistance to the Taichung City Government.

Premier Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) said that Taichung officials needed to strictly review construction safety conditions. 

Sources: www.vertical.net/chinapost.com