The Control Yuan on Tuesday censured the Taipei Department of Rapid Transit Systems over damage the MRT Circular Line sustained after a major earthquake on April 3 last year.
Control Yuan members Jao Yung-ching (趙永清) and Yeh Yi-jin (葉宜津) said that different degrees of liability should be assumed by the competent authority, authority in charge, construction supervisor, architectural designers and construction contractor.
The massive earthquake, measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, caused box girders to disconnect at 11 spots on the line, and damaged railway lines and 139 devices, resulting in the suspension of operations between the Jhonghe (中和) and Banciao (板橋) stations for eight months.
Photo: Hsieh Chun-lin, Taipei Times
The main reason for the severe damage was due to BES Engineering Corp’s failure to adhere to an approved blueprint, causing sections of the MRT rail line to shift by up to 93cm, the Control Yuan said.
The department, as the agency in charge of construction, failed in its responsibilities of supervision and oversight, while design firm CECI Engineering Consultants Inc, Taiwan failed to account for the “site effect” at the interface of girders and other components, Yeh said.
The department failed to uncover potential risks in the design as it did not test the overall structural integrity, even though it was the first elevated bridge rail in Taiwan to use the “stack platform” style, she said.
“It was lucky that no MRT train was passing over it during the earthquake that caused the 93cm displacement. Government agencies must learn from this incident, to prevent such a disaster,” she said.
Chen Chien-hung (陳建宏), who heads the department’s first construction division, on Thursday said that the department and division did fulfill their quality control duties, providing supporting documentation.
New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said the city is preparing to suit BES Engineering over the issue.
Chen said that Taipei would also file a lawsuit against the company at the end of this month.
The cities are seeking NT$1.927 billion (US$58.48 million) in compensation from the company.
Additional reporting by Hsieh Chun-lin and Jason Pan
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if its next president decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. “Of course, we would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, when asked to comment on statements made by two of the three Honduran presidential candidates during the presidential campaign in the Central American country. Taiwan is paying close attention to the region as a whole in the wake of a
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), spokeswoman Yang Chih-yu (楊智伃) and Legislator Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介) would be summoned by police for questioning for leading an illegal assembly on Thursday evening last week, Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said today. The three KMT officials led an assembly outside the Taipei City Prosecutors’ Office, a restricted area where public assembly is not allowed, protesting the questioning of several KMT staff and searches of KMT headquarters and offices in a recall petition forgery case. Chu, Yang and Hsieh are all suspected of contravening the Assembly and Parade Act (集會遊行法) by holding
President William Lai (賴清德) has appointed former vice president Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) to attend the late Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican City on Saturday on his behalf, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today. The Holy See announced Francis’ funeral would take place on Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square. The ministry expressed condolences over Francis’ passing and said that Chen would represent Taiwan at the funeral and offer condolences in person. Taiwan and the Vatican have a long-standing and close diplomatic relationship, the ministry said. Both sides agreed to have Chen represent Taiwan at the funeral, given his Catholic identity and
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if the next president of that country decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said today. “We would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said during a legislative hearing. At the same time, Taiwan is paying close attention to the Central American region as a whole, in the wake of a visit there earlier this year by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lin said. Rubio visited Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Guatemala, during which he
RSS