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Taiwan earthquake: developer of collapsed tower block arrested Taiwan earthquake: developer of collapsed tower block arrested
(35 minutes later)
Prosecutors in the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan have arrested the developer of a building which collapsed during an earthquake on Saturday that killed at least 41 people, an official has said.Prosecutors in the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan have arrested the developer of a building which collapsed during an earthquake on Saturday that killed at least 41 people, an official has said.
Hsiao Po-jen, director of the legal affairs department of the Tainan city government, told Reuters the developer had been arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide, according to information he had from local police. Hsiao Po-jen, director of the legal affairs department of the Tainan city government, said the developer had been arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide, according to information he had from local police.
More than 100 people are believed to still be trapped in the debris.More than 100 people are believed to still be trapped in the debris.
Shoddy construction is suspected as having contributed to the disaster, with the 17-story Weiguan Golden Dragon apartment block, built in 1989, the only major building to collapse in the quake. Shoddy construction is suspected as having contributed to the disaster, with the 17-storey Weiguan Golden Dragon apartment block, built in 1989, the only major building to collapse in the quake.
Although the shallow quake was potentially devastating, few buildings were damaged as a result of Taiwan’s strict construction standards. The island is frequently struck by quakes.Although the shallow quake was potentially devastating, few buildings were damaged as a result of Taiwan’s strict construction standards. The island is frequently struck by quakes.
Most of the 320 people who were rescued were saved in the hours immediately after the quake, in which the building collapsed on to itself before toppling over on to its side.Most of the 320 people who were rescued were saved in the hours immediately after the quake, in which the building collapsed on to itself before toppling over on to its side.
Among the survivors, Ko Ching-chung said he had propped himself against a wall to avoid falling onto his girlfriend after the quake hit just before 4am on Saturday. But after 20 hours, he could no longer hold on and collapsed on to her. Among the survivors, Ko Ching-chung said he had propped himself against a wall to avoid falling on to his girlfriend after the quake hit just before 4am on Saturday. But after 20 hours, he could no longer hold on and collapsed on to her.
“She would have soon not been able to breathe,” Ko, who was rescued along with his girlfriend on Sunday morning, told reporters on Monday from hospital. “I said to her I had to lay on top of her and she said to me ‘it’s OK’.”“She would have soon not been able to breathe,” Ko, who was rescued along with his girlfriend on Sunday morning, told reporters on Monday from hospital. “I said to her I had to lay on top of her and she said to me ‘it’s OK’.”
Five survivors were believed to have been pulled out on Sunday, and at least four on Monday. One of them, Tsao Wei-ling, called out, “here I am” as rescuers dug through to find her.Five survivors were believed to have been pulled out on Sunday, and at least four on Monday. One of them, Tsao Wei-ling, called out, “here I am” as rescuers dug through to find her.
She was found under the body of her husband, who had shielded her from a collapsed beam, CNA reported. Tsao’s husband and two-year-old son were found dead and five other members of the family remained unaccounted for, the news agency said.She was found under the body of her husband, who had shielded her from a collapsed beam, CNA reported. Tsao’s husband and two-year-old son were found dead and five other members of the family remained unaccounted for, the news agency said.
Teams on Monday also rescued a 42-year-old man and an eight-year-old girl.Teams on Monday also rescued a 42-year-old man and an eight-year-old girl.
The girl, Lin Su-chin, was recovering in a hospital, where she told her father and grandparents that she was looking forward to eating a lot of sweets as soon as she was well enough.The girl, Lin Su-chin, was recovering in a hospital, where she told her father and grandparents that she was looking forward to eating a lot of sweets as soon as she was well enough.
Shortly after she was rescued, workers also pulled out her aunt, a 28-year-old Vietnamese woman identified as Chen Mei-jih, who had been trapped on what was the building’s fifth floor.Shortly after she was rescued, workers also pulled out her aunt, a 28-year-old Vietnamese woman identified as Chen Mei-jih, who had been trapped on what was the building’s fifth floor.
Most earthquakes in Taiwan are minor and cause little or no damage, though a magnitude-7.6 quake in central Taiwan in 1999 killed more than 2,300 people.Most earthquakes in Taiwan are minor and cause little or no damage, though a magnitude-7.6 quake in central Taiwan in 1999 killed more than 2,300 people.
This year’s quake struck during the most important family holiday in the Chinese calendar — the Lunar New Year. This year’s quake struck during the most important family holiday in the Chinese calendar — the lunar new year.
The extended holiday officially started on Monday, but celebrations in Taiwan have been subdued.The extended holiday officially started on Monday, but celebrations in Taiwan have been subdued.