2 killed, 2 injured in Taichung construction accident

Taichung, May 23 (CNA) A construction site accident in the central city of Taichung on Friday morning killed two workers and injured two others, according to local authorities.

The Taichung City Government Fire Bureau received a report of a scaffolding collapse at a construction site in the city's South District at 9:04 a.m., the bureau said.

Two workers on the scaffolding, about 10 stories high, were believed to have fallen and showed no signs of life.

They were taken to a hospital by fire bureau personnel, but efforts to resuscitate them failed and they were pronounced dead.

The two injured workers were hit by the falling scaffolding, according to local police.

The operating manager of the scaffolding was unsure why it fell, police said.

The Taichung Labor Affairs Bureau has ordered the construction site to suspend operations, according to a text message sent to the media.

If the investigation finds violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the construction company will face fines ranging from NT$30,000 (US$1,001) to NT$300,000, and operations will be suspended until improvements are made, the office said.

The bureau said it will offer condolences and assist the families of the accident victims with related matters.