3 die in scaffolding accident at New Taipei MRT construction site (update)

Taipei, Nov. 20 (CNA) Three people have died and two others were injured at a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) construction site in New Taipei City's Sanxia District Saturday after the scaffolding they were on collapsed, according to the city's Fire Department.

One of the deceased was from Thailand, while the other two were Taiwanese, the city's Labor Affairs Department said.

The two injured workers -- one Taiwanese and one Thai national -- suffered leg fractures, the fire department said, adding that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which falls under the Ministry of Labor, will look into the incident.

The incident occurred at around 1 p.m. when the three-story high scaffolding they were on collapsed for an unknown reason, the department said.

The site is part of an elevated section of the MRT Sanying Line.

All work on the site has been suspended pending an investigation to determine the cause of the accident, New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) told reporters later in the day.