The Taipei City Government yesterday said it was continuing to grout the collapsing ground under several old buildings near a construction site in Zhongshan District (中山) that tilted to one side late on Thursday.
The city government said in a statement that the cracks should be filled by tomorrow, and that it would order Kee Tai Properties, the company in charge of the construction project, to contact affected households.
As the city government continues to water and grout the ground, police have imposed traffic controls in the area, with drivers only able to exit and unable to enter the areas between Lane Nos. 84 and 124 of Dazhi Street.
Photo: CNA
Construction Management Office Director Yu Chi-hsueh (虞積學) told reporters that an 800m3 volume, reaching 1.5m to 2m underground, had been grouted as of yesterday morning.
However, it would be hard to predict if the ground would continue to collapse, he said, adding that officials would continue to monitor the area.
The construction site obtained a permit in 2021.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) told reporters at the scene that 197 households, with 367 people, had been evacuated.
Chiang said officials would monitor and treat the area for about three days, and residents would be able to return home once the buildings had been confirmed safe.
However, if deemed necessary, the government would not hesitate to evacuate more residents, he said.
The incident occurred on Thursday night, when construction workers were excavating three floors below ground, Chiang said, adding that a diaphragm wall, which could not withstand the pressure, collapsed.
Grouting the ground would help restore and balance the pressure, he said.
The Dominican International School, which is next to the construction site, closed yesterday as a precautionary measure, the city government said.
Hsu Mao-ching (徐茂卿), head of the Taipei Structural Engineers’ Association, said that cracks are visible in the walls in the streets around the site, as well as in the school’s playground.
Hsu said the group was sending personnel to check the structures yesterday and would report the results after the inspection.
However, if the buildings are found to be significantly tilted, they might have to be torn down, he said.
Kee Tai Properties said in a statement that it had already shut down the project, and was working to compensate affected households.
The company said that it would not shirk its responsibilities, and would only apply to resume construction after the city agencies confirm that the buildings are safe.
As a precaution, the city government has also suspended construction work on another site, which would only be able to resume work after it is confirmed to be safe, the Construction Management Office said.
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