Taichung Construction Tragedy: Tower Crane Collapse Kills Three, Raises Questions About Contractor Oversight Practices

Taichung, Taiwan— Three construction workers were killed instantly when a tower crane collapsed at a high-rise residential site in Xitun District just after 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, trapping two others under steel and concrete.

The crane, operating on the 28th floor level of a 32-story project, snapped at its jib section. The boom fell onto scaffolding and the worker rest area below. Firefighters arrived within 12 minutes. They found the site in chaos.

Two men were pronounced dead at the scene. A third died on the way to China Medical University Hospital. The city fire bureau confirmed three other workers suffered injuries, one critical. The names have not been released pending family notification.

Workers at the site said they heard a loud metallic crack before the collapse. One survivor told first responders the crane had been swaying more than usual all morning. "We told the foreman. He said keep working," a worker said, asking not to be named.

The developer, Lih Ming Construction, said it is cooperating fully. The company issued a statement saying all equipment had passed monthly inspection in early October. The statement did not answer questions about wind load limits or operator certification for Saturday.

Taichung Labor Affairs Bureau sealed the site. Officials said the crane's maintenance logs, operator license, and load records were seized. An inspector at the scene said preliminary focus is on a possible failure of the slewing ring and overloaded counterweight.

Mayor Lu Shiow-yen visited the hospital and ordered a citywide audit of tower cranes on projects above 15 floors. The Ministry of Labor confirmed it dispatched a central investigation team. The team will review whether safety protocols were ignored to meet construction deadlines.

Lih Ming has two prior violations on record from 2024 for scaffolding fall protection. Labor groups say penalties in Taiwan remain low and enforcement is stretched thin. The site will remain closed while forensic engineers examine the collapsed structure.

The bodies remain at the morgue for examination. Families gathered at the hospital entrance. Police said they are waiting for the labor bureau report before deciding on criminal liability.