Two-story building damaged by adjacent construction work in Taipei

Taipei, Sept. 10 (CNA) A two-story building in Taipei sustained severe damage on Thursday when adjacent construction work caused its ground floor to crack and leak yellowish muddy water, though no injuries were reported, local authorities said.

The Taipei City Fire Department responded to the incident at 3:30 p.m. in an alley off Minquan East Road, near MRT Xingtian Temple Station, in Zhongshan District.

An initial investigation suggested that a breach in the underground diaphragm wall during foundation excavation and retaining operations caused water and sand leakage, resulting in soil loss in the adjacent area, according to the Construction Management Office.

Local authorities reported no injuries in the incident, noting that a second-floor resident has been relocated and the building's first floor was leased for office space.

The Construction Management Office said construction work has been suspended due to failure to maintain the safety of adjacent public facilities and buildings, and work will not resume until an improvement plan has been submitted and approved.

Meanwhile, the contractor and the supervisor were each fined NT$90,000 (US$2,845) for the incident, according to the office.