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
The National Immigration Agency (NIA) said yesterday that it will revoke the dependent-based residence permit of a Chinese social media influencer who reportedly “openly advocated for [China’s] unification through military force” with Taiwan. The Chinese national, identified by her surname Liu (劉), will have her residence permit revoked in accordance with Article 14 of the “Measures for the permission of family- based residence, long-term residence and settlement of people from the Mainland Area in the Taiwan Area,” the NIA said in a news release. The agency explained it received reports that Liu made “unifying Taiwan through military force” statements on her online
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck off Taitung County at 1:09pm today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The hypocenter was 53km northeast of Taitung County Hall at a depth of 12.5km, CWA data showed. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Taitung County and Hualien County on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. The quake had an intensity of 3 in Nantou County, Chiayi County, Yunlin County, Kaohsiung and Tainan, the data showed. There were no immediate reports of damage following the quake.
Tung Tzu-hsien (童子賢), a Taiwanese businessman and deputy convener of the nation’s National Climate Change Committee, said yesterday that “electrical power is national power” and nuclear energy is “very important to Taiwan.” Tung made the remarks, suggesting that his views do not align with the country’s current official policy of phasing out nuclear energy, at a forum organized by the Taiwan People’s Party titled “Challenges and Prospects of Taiwan’s AI Industry and Energy Policy.” “Taiwan is currently pursuing industries with high added- value and is developing vigorously, and this all requires electricity,” said the chairman
Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) is to begin his one-year alternative military service tomorrow amid ongoing legal issues, the Ministry of the Interior said yesterday. Wang, who last month was released on bail of NT$150,000 (US$4,561) as he faces charges of allegedly attempting to evade military service and forging documents, has been ordered to report to Taipei Railway Station at 9am tomorrow, the Alternative Military Service Training and Management Center said. The 33-year-old would join about 1,300 other conscripts in the 263rd cohort of general alternative service for training at the Chenggong Ling camp in Taichung, a center official told reporters. Wang would first
RSS