Two injured after falling canopy damages cars in Taipei

Taipei, March 22 (CNA) Two individuals were injured in Taipei on Saturday after a canopy fell from a building onto two cars at the Linsen North Road and Minsheng East Road intersection around 1 p.m.

Along with the canopy, some debris including building materials also fell, denting the two cars waiting at a red light, Taipei authorities said.

The authorities said that two passengers, a 40-year-old woman, surnamed Wu (吳), and a 9-year-old girl, surnamed Hsieh (謝), suffered minor injuries from the incident and sought medical attention.

The Taipei City Government said initial investigations suggest the incident could have been caused by the thermal expansion and contraction from recent temperature swings between day and night.

The Taipei City Construction Management Office said in a statement that the building that the canopy and debris fell from became operational in 1985.

Officials were sent to the scene as well as Taipei Architects Association personnel, who helped assess the situation and carry out necessary safety checks, the office said.

A barricade has also been put around the building to avoid further accidents, the office said.

The office said that the owner of the building has also been ordered to erect more protective measures within a week and complete more comprehensive renovation work within six months.

The office added that the building owner could be ordered to pay NT$300,000 (US$9,000) if found guilty of neglect to maintenance and upkeep the building which led to endangering public safety.