Earthquake topples tower cranes

TAIWAN Structural Engineers Association has been asked to investigate the fatal crane accident at the Taipei Financial Centre (TFC) last month when two cranes were dislodged during an earthquake.

The cranes, Favco 440D tower cranes plunged 53 floors to the street, killing the drivers in each and three other workers. Another 23 were injured, mainly site workers hit by falling debris, but also a taxi driver in one of three cars crushed.

The cranes were the two smaller of four luffing jib cranes sitting on top of the steel frame for the TFC which is to be the world's tallest building at 507m when completed. The centre comprises a 101 storey tower and a six storey podium.

The two cranes were owned by Japanese contractor Kumagai Gumi, one of four in the consortium building the tower. The group includes local subsidiary Kumagai Taiwan and Taiwan's biggest firm RSEA Engineering Corporation.

Two large Favco 1250DX cranes remained intact during the earthquake in early April which is estimated at just above 5 on the Richter scale in Taipei, though it reached 6.8 close to the epicentre.

According to Shaw Shieh, head of Evergreen Consulting, the building's structural engineer, the two cranes were supported by floor beams at level 47 of the building's steel frame and laterally braced at level 51. They were not lifting at the time but were in use.

Kumagai has also sent investigators to the scene and Malaysian owned Favelle Favco says it has sent people to the country also to aid investigations.

Work on the building is suspended until investigations of the accident are complete and the steel structure has been checked.