Several lanes at the intersection of Windhorst Road and Parsons Avenue in Brandon remained closed for the indefinite future as county workers tread carefully in determining what caused a section of the roadway to collapse July 19.
“We have to be really careful at that intersection because there are lots of utility lines in the area,” said Hillsborough County spokesman Patrick Murray. "We have a sewer line and a water line there and we have to make sure there are no other utilities, so we have to be careful drilling.”
At the scene, late afternoon July 22, barricades were seen at the intersection, with drilling under way.
Crew workers first believed a 16-inch sewage pipeline beneath the intersection might have caused the collapse of the 6-foot-square section of roadway on July 19, according to a county report.
But the sewer line was dug up and found to be intact. Now the county is testing the intersection for sinkholes — but carefully, as Murray noted.
Additional detours and lane closures are possible as crews dig up the line for inspection and any necessary repairs.
Motorists who must travel through the intersection are warned to expect delays.
Starr DiGiacomo
Oct 28, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Main road to Tibet collapses, many vehicles trapped
Part of one of the main roadslinking remote Tibet with the outside world has collapsedfollowing heavy rain, trapping hundreds of vehicles but causingno casualties, Chinese state news agency Xinhua said onWednesday.
BEIJING, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Part of one of the main roads linking remote Tibet with the outside world has collapsed following heavy rain, trapping hundreds of vehicles but causing no casualties, Chinese state news agency Xinhua said on Wednesday.
A 50-metre long section of the road, which snakes through the mountains to connect Tibet with the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan, collapsed in Bomi County, Xinhua cited local police as saying.
"Rescuers were rushing to dig another road through the mountains to evacuate the cars and people as it will take too long to repair the collapsed road," the news agency added. "It is not known when traffic will resume."
The road was once the only way in or out of Tibet, Xinhua said. The government has since built a railway to the remote and restive Chinese region, along with other roads.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=main-road-to-tibe...
Oct 28, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Landslide sweeps away part of Route 341 near L'Epiphanie
A landslide swept away part of Route 341 in L'Epiphanie Thursday afternoon (Oct. 28. 2011)
Updated: Fri Oct. 28 2011 10:29:15 PM
A landslide has caused extensive damage to the embankment of a rural highway in Lanaudiere.
Part of the embankment for Highway 341 near L'Epiphanie was swept away Thursday afternoon, and Quebec Civil Security thinks construction work is to blame.
Three heavy vehicles were swept away when a piece of earth dozens of metres long slid down a slope.
The land gave way in the middle of the afternoon in an area dotted with homes, one of which belongs to Sophie Morreau.
"We were in the car when we saw neighbours running," she said. "Then panic set in."
Construction crews had already started working on the embankment because of a fear of a landslide.
The earth in the area is extremely sandy, and coupled with the fact that a river runs along the highway means the land is very unstable. It's therefore no surprise that this isn't the first time a landslide has hit this exact spot.
One was in 2008 while the land was being leveled, destroying two houses, and another one nearby came close to bringing two more houses down in 2010.
"In 2008 two families were forced to move," says area resident Claude Bellerose. "I think there need to be more permanent evacuations."
Civil security says the work might have somehow triggered this particular slide. Experts spent Friday analysing the rest of the terrain and determining what needs to be done to prevent another slide.
But Morreau's confidence in their work is shaken.
"This is serious," she said. "I have a 14 year old son. I don't feel safe in my own home."
http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20111028/mtl_landsl...
Oct 29, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.tottenhamjournal.co.uk/news/shoppers_avoid_falling_mason...
Shoppers avoid falling masonry in Green Lanes
by Daisy Jestico Monday, October 31, 2011
5:02 PM
Pedestrians had a lucky escape when huge chunks of masonry plummeted onto a busy shopping parade.
Residents claimed it was a “miracle nobody was killed” as bricks and mortar collapsed on to the pavement in Green Lanes, Harringay, at about 3.30pm on Friday.
It is said to be the third such incident on the same stretch of road in the last 18 months.
And it took place just weeks after the streets were full to bursting with visitors during the Harringay Food Festival on September 18.
Ian Sygrave, chairman of the Ladder Community Safety Partnership, said: “It was a miracle that nobody was killed. If this had happened during the food festival it just doesn’t bear thinking about.
“I fully appreciate that these are private properties but now we have had this happen three times in the last 18 months.
“These buildings are more than 120 years old and they are obviously going through a vulnerable phase. They need to be restored and repaired rather than just being pulled down - or waiting for them to fall apart.”
A decorative feature on a dormer window had crumbled off the flats above Rose Bakery, near the junction with Cavendish Road.
Haringey Council’s building controls department is currently investigating the source of the collapse, but it is thought to have been caused by damp in the roof of the building.
Rob Chau, of the Harringay Traders Association, said: “If this had happened six weeks ago we would have had 40-50 people injured.
“I was walking past there just 45 minutes earlier and there were lots of people around then so it’s extremely lucky.”
The street was filled with shoppers and cars when the incident took place but thankfully nobody was injured.
Police cordoned off Green Lanes while the debris was cleared from the road.
The manager of the Rose Bakery, who wanted to be known only as Eddy, said: “It just dropped down but luckily nobody was injured.
“We do have concerns because there are so many other places you can see where buildings are about to fall. This is all over Green Lanes.”
Oct 31, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.gazette.net/article/20111031/NEWS/710319959/1124/1124/th...
Three workers rescued after scaffolding collapses in Rockville
Men left hanging by safety line eight stories over pavement
Montgomery County Firefighters rescued three workers whose scaffolding collapsed on the side of a building in Rockville this morning, leaving the men dangling by a safety line eight stories above the street.
A ladder truck was dispatched from the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department’s Station 23 at 9:39 a.m., shortly after the scaffolding collapsed for unknown reasons on the side of the Montrose Office Center at 6001 Montrose Road, said fire and rescue spokeswoman Beth Anne Nesselt.
Nov 1, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.globalsaskatoon.com/highway+16+near+lloydminster+restric...
Highway 16 near Lloydminster restricted after overpass collapse
Read it on Global News: Highway 16 near Lloydminster restricted after overpass collapse
Repairs to the Canadian Pacific (CP) overpass over Highway 16, just east of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan are expected to begin Tuesday morning.
Starting around 7:00 p.m. traffic on Highway 16 will be closed to all motorists from 40th Avenue to the Husky Upgrader.
Work is expected to be completed by day’s end.
Traffic detours include:
Westbound traffic - south on Range Road 3280 (road to Husky Upgrader) to 12th Street, right on 40th Avenue and west onto Highway 16.
Eastbound traffic - south on 40th Avenue, east on 12th Street, turn north onto Range Road 3280 towards Husky Upgrader, back onto Highway 16.
Long combination vehicles in excess of 31 metres in length and all wide loads will not be allowed on the detour. All long combination vehicles will be required to stage their trailers, as there is no alternative routing in the Lloydminster area.
Wide loads will be required to find alternative routes.
The overpass collapsed on October 11th after it was struck by a backhoe being hauled by a semi. No injuries were reported in the collision.
Nov 1, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Mt. Washington Road Closed After Retaining Wall Collapse
Posted: 4:30 pm EDT October 31, 2011
PITTSBURGH -- A Mount Washington road is closed after a retaining wall collapsed on Monday.Officials said the wall collapsed on Wyoming Street after noon.Public Works crews have closed Wyoming Street from Sycamore Street to Grandview Avenue while repairs are being made.
http://www.wpxi.com/news/29641195/detail.html
Nov 1, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
A major northwest Atlanta surface street remained closed Tuesday while crews worked to repair damage caused by a water main break.
The 12-inch break occurred Monday afternoon on Collier Road between DeFoor and Hills avenues, according to Janet Ward, a spokeswoman for the city's Department of Watershed Management.
The break, which cause a large sinkhole, was repaired overnight, and crews were expected to begin filling in the hole and repaving the road Tuesday morning.
The break disrupted water service to some businesses in the area, but Ward said no residential customers were affected.
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/water-main-break-closes-1214317.html
Nov 1, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Residents_rush_to_save_cars_as_...
Residents rush to save cars as road caves in
Warner, Lee Sing slam businessman for excavating area.
Residents of Augustine Lane, Belmont, rushed to save their cars from falling into a collapsed section of their road, which occurred as a result of excavation works being done by a businessman in the area.
They fear, however, that if their road is not fixed, their homes may be next.
Works and Infrastructure Minister Jack Warner, Member of Parliament (Port of Spain North/St Ann's West) Patricia McIntosh and Port of Spain Mayor Louis Lee Sing toured the site yesterday and condemned the businessman who Lee Sing said was warned about what he was doing and then, "ordered to cease and desist but he continued despite that".
Augustine Lane is a relatively narrow road, located off Belle Eau Road in Belmont.
Prior to the excavation works, a large, seemingly well-built retaining wall had been constructed to support the road while below the wall is a large building owned by the businessman.
Behind the building was where the excavation works were being done, and according to Lee-Sing, it was these activities which led to the land beneath the wall being undermined.
On Monday, around 4.30 p.m., the retaining wall began falling into the almost 30-metre-deep crevasse, taking approximately 20 metres of Augustine Lane with it.
Cars can no longer pass along the road, and according to Lee Sing, the repair work is expected to cost between ten and $15 million.
Lee-Sing said, however, "We are going to see this to the end to ensure the gentleman responsible pays for every inch of road that has fallen."
Resident Rickie Medina said, "The first landslip was about two months aback, and they (the businessman's contractor) cut into the wall itself and this is the outcome."
He said that around 5 p.m., his wife called him and shouted at him to move his car, which he said was in danger of falling into the crevasse.
Medina said, "We can't make grocery and come in to our area as we are supposed, and it's a whole inconvenience."
Another neighbour, Ingrid Williams, said, "Since June, they started to dig the land, and it suffered my mother so much that she died three months ago. I called the agent for the land, and they stopped them from digging near my house."
Williams continued, "Two months ago, part of the wall came down, and I spoke to the engineer about it, and yesterday evening, 4.30 to 5 p.m., a passing car got stuck over the precipice, and the cars who was behind him had to help move out his car. I haven't slept last night or this morning."
Warner assured, however, "We shall work in conjunction with the mayor, and we shall start work to shore up this site because if not, this road will collapse in a day or two, and people cannot walk here. Once this collapses, then the houses are next, so tomorrow morning (today), my team and the mayor's team will be up here to plan what will be done. When it's done, then some designs for a wall will be submitted, and in some ways, we will have to work together. We have to collaborate on this."
Warner continued, "There is no price you can put for the inconvenience of the public, and that to me is regrettable, and this is happening all over the country, and this is part of the cause of all the flooding. People just cut the mountain and cut willy-nilly, without any regard for flooding, for drainage, and then they expect the Government or the city corporation to fix it overnight, and this has to stop."
Nov 3, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2011/2011-11-02-091.html
We Energies Bluff Collapses, Dumping Coal Ash Into Lake Michigan
OAK CREEK, Wisconsin, November 2, 2011 (ENS) - A section of bluff, including part of an ash-filled ravine, collapsed Monday beside the We Energies Oak Creek Power Plant, sending coal ash, soil and mud onto the Lake Michigan coast.
A pickup truck, dredging equipment, diesel fuel tanks, mud and other debris landed in the lake along with an undetermined amount of coal ash, a byproduct of burning coal for electricity.
We Energies officials confirmed all personnel have been accounted for and no one was injured in the mishap. The power plant contined to operate unaffected.
Oak Creek Acting Fire Chief Tom Rosandich said the collapse left a debris field 120 yards long and 50 to 80 yards wide at the foot of the bluff. The coal ash came from a decades-old, closed coal ash landfill that is located near to where pollution-control equipment is being installed.
Officials from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said that no one is yet certain of the extent of environmental damage.
An investigation into the cause of the accident has been started by U.S. Coast Guard pollution investigators from Sector Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, state, local and company officials.
We Energies has attempted to reassure the public that the spill is minor and the material that landed in the lake is not hazardous.
"Coal ash is not a hazardous material. It is unlikely there will be any health impacts at all from this event," the company said in a statement. "The company and other officials will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the bluff failure."
But environmental groups are concerned that the toxic components in the coal ash could pollute the lake and enter the groundwater.
"We Energies said in an update on its website today that coal ash is 'not a hazardous material,'" says Katie Nekola, attorney for Clean Wisconsin, "but that is far from true. The fact is, coal ash contains chemicals and compounds that are dangerous to human health."
Coal ash contains 24 known pollutants, some of which, according to the National Research Council, are toxic even in miniscule quantities. Those toxins include: arsenic, boron, cadmium, chromium, hexavalent chromium, lead, mercury, and dioxins, along with other chemicals and compounds.
The coal ash spill comes at a time when Congress is considering limiting EPA's authority to regulate coal ash as a hazardous waste.
On October 14, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2273, a bill that would stop the EPA from setting standards to require power plants to dispose of coal ash more safely at the 1,300 coal ash dumps around the country. Story continues...
Nov 3, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/CDRI-porch-collapse...
CDRI porch collapses, none hurt
LUCKNOW: The porch of the building, which houses the Central Drug Research Institute, collapsed on Tuesday.
According to institute's officials, the porch had developed cracks and CDRI had informed the state government as well as the Archaeological Survey of India about the dilapidated front portion of the building. Since, it is a heritage building, CDRI could not have initiated any construction on its own.
"Nobody was injured in the incident," said Vinay Tripathi, a senior scientist and CDRI spokesperson. Even cars parked at the place were destroyed beyond repair. The bricks dating back to 1887 and 1903 were seen in the rubble at the collapse site.
The sprawling campus of CDRI, a CSIR laboratory, is situated in Chhattar Manzil.
Nawab of Lucknow, Ghazi-ud-din Haider started the construction of the Chattar Manzil. Since he died, it was his son Nasir-ud-din Haider who got the building completed. It served as a palace for the rulers of Awadh and their wives. The building served a stronghold for Indian revolutionaries during the first war of Indian independence of 1857. story continues....
Nov 9, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Somerset-families-dark-home-date-ca...
Somerset families in dark about home date after carnival night wall collapse
Families left homeless by the collapse of a large section of roadside river wall in Bridgwater have been told authorities still do not know when they will be able to return.
A 40-metre section of wall supporting the bank of the River Parrett at West Quay in the town centre collapsed on Friday amid torrential rain. The road behind, which carries gas and electricity supplies and sewers, is now vulnerable.
Families still don't know when they can return home following the Bridgwater river wall collapse
“This will not be a quick-fix solution. This an ongoing situation with changing circumstances; it will be assessed on a daily basis” Sedgemoor District Council said yesterday.
“Residents and business owners will be allowed to return to their homes and businesses to collect essential possessions. These visits will be escorted by Sedgemoor District Council officers.”
Twenty-two homes were evacuated and three businesses, a fish-and-chip ship, record shop and a baby shop which was due to open yesterday have been boarded up.
Most families were able to stay with friends or family, with some staying at YMCA accommodation.
Sedgemoor, Somerset County Council and the Environment Agency are all working on a solution.
Sedgemoor said: “The priority is to stabilise and then work out a long-term solution.
Nov 9, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45173167/ns/us_news-life/t/earthquake-h...
5.6 earthquake hits central Oklahoma after earlier shakers
Tremor is felt across wide area; chimneys, walls collapse; roads buckle
What could be the largest temblor in the state's history damaged homes, shook buildings, caused cracks and rattled a college football stadium 50 miles from the epicenter.
Emergency management officials in Lincoln County were reporting significant damage, NBC station KJRH of Tulsa reported.
Chimneys collapsed through roofs of homes, KJRH reported. Damage to the Prague library included collapsed air conditioning ducts and a collapsed wall.
Area residents reported glass breaking and items falling from walls, NBC News reported.
Several roadways buckled, including Highway 62 and other county roads, KJRH said.
A boulder the size of an SUV rolled onto one rural roadway, NBC News reported. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was assessing road damage early Sunday, NBC News reported.
There has been no word on any injuries reported.
The quake was shallow at 3.1 miles deep and occurred at 10:53 p.m. Central Daylight Time, the USGS said. It was centered about four miles east of the city of Sparks in Lincoln County, or about 45 miles east of Oklahoma City. Several smaller aftershocks struck early Sunday.
See a USGS map showing where quake struck
A USGS spokesman told NBC News that callers from Kansas, Arizona, Missouri, Texas and Oklahoma were reporting that they had felt the quake.
People posted on Twitter that they felt the earthquake as far away as Kansas City, St. Louis, and Wylie, Texas.
“The picture by the TV fell off the wall and we jumped up because we thought somebody had hit the house,” Noeh Morales of Oklahoma City told NewsOK.com.
Nov 9, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.wjactv.com/videos/news/roof-collapse-closes-well-travele...
Roof Collapse Closes Well-Traveled Johnstown Road
Nov 9, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/11/08/rescue-dogs...
Rescue dogs search rubble after wall falls on ex-OAP home
A WALL lining the entrance to a former old people’s home mysteriously collapsed on to the building forcing fire crews to take in rescue dogs yesterday morning.
No-one was injured when the 130ft long, 8ft high wall on Langland Road, Mumbles, collapsed but the building was damaged.
Low roofs on the frontage of the former Clifflands nursing home were damaged by falling bricks and rubble entered the building, which is now unoccupied.
A spokesman for Mid and West Fire Service said special rescue dogs had been called in to make sure no-one was caught up in the collapse.
Firefighters responded to reports of a large collapsed wall shortly before 7am.
Mid and West Fire Service said around 30 tonnes of rubble had been left after the collapse and the cause was unknown.
Firefighters spent two hours at the scene, the last appliance leaving at 8.55am.
A Swansea council spokesman said after an inspection it was satisfied there was no longer a danger posed by the wall.
The spokesman said: “Building control officers responded immediately and instigated removal of further areas of the wall which were considered unsafe.
“The site is now safe. Work is continuing to clear debris from the area.”
The council also confirmed the property was privately owned but the owner of the building could not be contacted for comment yesterday.
Nov 9, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.yorkregion.com/news/article/1239214--bayview-lanes-remai...
Bayview lanes remain closed
Work could continue until weekend
Watermain break the cause of massive hole on Bayview.
If you were planning to cruise down Bayview Avenue to Toronto this week, you'll have to plan an alternate route.
Markham's enivronmental services director Peter Loukes said the town is expecting to only open the closed portion of Bayview by the weekend.
"We may be able to open it earlier if the weather holds for us," he said.
A ruptured water main on Bayview Avenue Friday caused a massive sinkhole that closed the road indefinitely between John Street and Steeles Avenue.
Mr. Loukes said road crews have been working round the clock to repair the damaged portion of the road.
"We had to strip the pavement from the top of the hill down to the bridge," he said. Paving crews were scheduled to come this evening, he added.
Mr. Loukes speculated that watermain break was caused by rusting which created small holes in the cast iron.
"You never can predict when they are going to go," he said. "We have 30 to 40 watermain breaks a year. A little less than one a week."
On Sunday another water main broke on John Street. Mr. Loukes said crews repaired that one and the damage wasn't as extensive as the break on Bayview Avenue.
Nov 9, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-15660793
Bridgwater river wall damaged in flood 'will collapse'
A riverside wall in Bridgwater damaged in a flood is still moving and will collapse, officials have said.
The partially collapsed wall at West Quay is said to be moving at 15mm a day although it is still performing a role protecting the quay from river water.
Large cracks appeared on Friday after local drainage failed to deal with 20mm of rain that fell in an hour.
A council spokesperson said it would be difficult to find a long-term solution until the wall had collapsed entirely.
Concrete has been sprayed into the hole behind the wall to stabilise the material under the road surface and protect it from further erosion.
Nineteen properties were evacuated on Friday and residents told that the worst case scenario was a possible delay of six months before being allowed to return home.
Dave Swann, 44, said he was "devastated" at the thought of being away from home for Christmas.
'Flooding possible'
Higher tides have been forecast for later in the week but water engineers do not think these pose any further flood risk.
BBC weatherman Ian Fergusson said the heaviest rain on Thursday morning was expected to fall on parts of east Devon and west and central Somerset.
"The main implication will be a lot of surface water and spray into the rush hour," he said.
"However, as we saw with the issues arising from heavy rain last Friday in Bridgwater and Bruton, localised flooding is possible, especially as the soil moisture level is already at capacity across many parts of Somerset
Nov 9, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Building in Danville partially collapses, debris blocking off N Main Street
http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wdbj7-building-in-danville-partially-coll...
The structure was in the process of being torn down
Partially collapsed building in Danville (NEWS7's Justin Ward)
10:06 p.m. EST, November 9, 2011
UPDATE 10:28 p.m.
Crews confirmed the building was being renovated, not torn down.
Several cars were also damaged in the collapsed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS7 is on the scene of a partial building collapse in Danville. Justin Ward reports a structure next to the North Theater on Main Street had a wall fall onto the road.
The building was in the process of being torn down tonight when it fell. There are no reports of any injuries.
Danville Police say the street is still blocked off due to debris in the roadway.
Nov 10, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_19334668
Paseo del Mar land movement now officially a landslide
Don't call it a sinkhole.
The cracks and fissures and crevices forming out at Paseo del Mar are officially - and more accurately - all part of what could be a major landslide in progress, according to city and county officials who also have labeled the event "life-threatening."
Officials this week continue to scramble in an effort to lessen whatever damage could occur by rerouting storm drains and moving power poles. An 8-foot-tall, permanent chain-link fence is going up around the affected site to make sure no one gets hurt.
"It's not a sinkhole, it's definitely a landslide," said Doane Liu, who is heading up the 15th District staff while the City Council position is vacant. "It's moving so quickly that we had an all-hands meeting last Thursday in the Mayor's Office.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spokesman Peter Sanders said Monday that the land is continuing to move at a steady pace.
"It's highly unstable," Sanders said.
With the rainy season already started, officials worry about the possibility of a large-scale slide.
"The most important thing to know is it's dangerous to walk in that area," Liu said. "There are all kinds of safety and, let's face it, liability issues. There are crevices where someone could fall 20 or 30 feet underground. ... It's an emergency."
The new fence - which replaces a temporary chain-link fence put up by county workers - should be in place by the end of this
The fence also will go through a section of the White Point Nature Preserve, where orange plastic netting has not been enough to keep people out of the area that also is considered risky.
Sections of pipe were spotted bobbing in the ocean below on Sunday.
"From my backyard I can look directly across where the road has collapsed," said Robert Day, who lives on the ocean-side of the cliff just east of the affected area. He said he called a city engineer to report the pipes but that "he didn't offer much insight."
While officials believe the cause of the land shift is a natural geological failure, nothing has been ruled out Sanders said.
Residents remain suspicious that a leaky pipe - or irrigation of the White Point Nature Preserve - may have precipitated the slide.
Meanwhile, Liu said the city has identified funding for a geological study from a pot of money that was to be used for Paseo del Mar repairs that now aren't needed.
There's little that can be done to prevent the slippage, Liu said, and city and county crews continue to do all they can to prevent problems should more of the earth collapse.
No homes are directly threatened at this time - the landslide appears to be in a crescent shape where there are no structures - but residents in adjacent neighborhoods have expressed concern.
Day said a section of cliff near his home tumbled off the edge about a year ago. He said geologists at the time attributed it to the heavy 2009-10 rains.
"Why aren't they allocating funds (now) to monitor exactly what's going on?" Day asked.
Sanders said bids are set to go out this week - "we're moving as fast as bureaucracy can move" - for an independent survey, but the work itself could take six months.
"The geological
Nov 15, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Nov 15, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Crane-Collapses-Beam-Narrowly-Miss...
Crane Collapses, Beam Narrowly Misses Highway
Crane crushes light generator
A concrete beam came inches from landing on Interstate 20 after a crane collapsed overnight Wednesday.
A crane used in the construction of state Highway 161 collapsed late Tuesday, nearly dropping a concrete beam onto the open lanes of Interstate 20.
The beam came crashing down just inches away from the interstate at about 10 p.m., which was open to traffic at the time.
The crane came to rest upon the partially-constructed lanes of an overpass and suffered significant damage. The beam crushed a light-tower generator.
It is not yet known what cased the crane to collapse. There were no injuries reported.
State Highway 161, which will be a toll road when completed, stretches north from I-20 to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, where it runs along the airport's east side until it merges with the President George Bush Turnpike north of state Highway 183.
Officials with the Texas Department of Transportation said there are 15,000 crashes at road construction sites each year, killing 100 people.
Nov 16, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://poleshift.ning.com/profiles/blogs/ca-los-angeles-san-pedro-c...
Nov 16, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
St. Petersburg road collapse closes part of Park Street, causes delays
ST. PETERSBURG — A road collapsed Wednesday morning at Park Street and 46th Avenue, forcing authorities to close a segment of Park Street for days.
Park Street was closed between 46th and 48th Avenues, causing a traffic backup in the early afternoon, officials said.
Deputies were on scene rerouting traffic in the area.
Officials warned the road could remain closed for up to three days, and advised motorists seek alternate routes.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/roads/st-petersburg-roa...
Nov 16, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.beritajakarta.com/2008/en/newsview.aspx?idwil=0&id=2...
Asphalt of Box Culverts Project in Sudirman Collapsed
Ery Basworo as Head of Jakarta Public Works Department admitted the asphalting is temporary. Officers will continue the box culvert installment as well as repair the collapsed asphalt after SEA Games finish. “It is temporary. We accelerated the project yesterday before SEA Games started,” he stated, Thursday (11/17).
According to him, the asphalt collapsed because not all box culverts were planted, so that the holes which had been dig were only closed with sands and stones. As for the box culverts installed on west side are only along 1 kilometer and east side along 600 meters. “The road that has been installed with box culverts won’t collapse because it is hold by the box culverts,” he explained.
Nevertheless, officers have repaired the collapsed asphalt at several points for these last four days. The repair works are applied at night from 12-4 AM. “We dredge the collapsed asphalt then we compress it again. The most important thing is SEA Games implementation must run smooth,” he expressed.
He also told that box culverts along Jl. Jenderal Sudirman are predicted would able to hold up to 10-20 years ahead. After SEA Games, the box culverts installment works will be continued on November 23 and is targeted finish in December. “The deadline is December 15, but the contractor asks additional time for that location (Jl. Jendral Sudirman),” he added.
Nov 17, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Storm causes major damage in central Davidson County
The remains of a destroyed house at 2633 Young Road lie scattered after an apparent tornado struck the dwelling owned by William Thompson on Wednesday night.
A severe thunderstorm swept through North Carolina Wednesday evening, causing major damage and unconfirmed reports of a tornado touching down in Davidson County.
Jeff Smith, director of Davidson County Emergency Services, said Thursday monring two people died as a result of the storm, one woman age 49 or 50 and a 3-year-old girl. Both were found Wednesday night in an area on Old Burkhart Road. Smith did not confirm if the child and woman are related.
No other information about the deaths was available. The identification of the people had not been released Thursday morning pending notification of relatives, Smith said.
“We have reports that tornadoes touched down in Randolph and Davidson Counties this evening, causing a fatality in Davidson,” Gov. Bev Perdue said in a news release. “Bob (Eaves, Perdue's husband) and I want to extend our deepest sympathies to the victim's family.”
Smith said eight to 10 people were injured. He said one or two people with severe trauma were taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. The others were transported to Wake Forest Baptist Health — Lexington Medical Center and Thomasville Medical Center.
Smith said about 40 residents had been displaced. A shelter for those who have been displaced has been set up at Davis-Townsend Elementary School.
Major damage was reported to homes and buildings on Allred Road, Young Road, Hedrick Mill Road, Old Burkhart Road, Noahtown Road and Clarksbury Church Road in central and eastern parts of Davidson County.
http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20111116/BREAKING/111119953/100...
Nov 17, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/11/18/road-stretch-near-bt-temudo...
Road stretch near Bt Temudok collapses
Posted on November 18, 2011, Friday
SRI AMAN: That section of the road near Bukit Temudok (in front of General Operations Force complex), collapsed around 11am yesterday.
At press time, the road was impassable to traffic as it was being repaired by the relevant agencies including Public
Works Department to allow motorists who were stuck there for hours to continue with their journey.
Hundreds of vehicles coming from Sri Aman and Sarikei on their way to Kuching were affected by the road collapse.
A source believed that soil erosion underneath the road had caused it to collapse. Intermittent rain the past few days must have made the soil loose. The crack was first detected around 11am.
The incident has been reported to the Sri Aman Natural Disaster Relief Management Committee as well as the State Internal Security Council.
The Sri Aman-Kuching-Sarikei road is the main mode of transport for people in Sri Aman to get to other towns. The alternative route is the shortcut to Air Bayai Water Treatment Plant at the Bukit Temudok junction.
However, a bridge there is said to be damaged due to constant use by heavy machinery.
Nov 18, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/11/20/bc-...
Kelowna traffic diverted after overpass wall collapse
Last Updated: Nov 20, 2011 2:55 PM PT
Traffic heading into West Kelowna on Highway 97 was backed up Sunday after a retaining wall on an overpass collapsed, spilling rocks and soil onto the southbound lane.
By Sunday afternoon, traffic was backed up for several kilometres onto the W.R. Bennett Bridge and traffic in the area was being diverted.
"This will be diverted certainly for the morning commute [Monday] and I think for a few days yet," said Transportation Ministry spokesperson Murray Tekano.
"The detour will be in place and we will be bringing in traffic control people for 24 hours a day until this is solved."
Tekano said engineers are assessing the situation, but the overpass itself has not shifted.
Work to repair the damaged wall is expected to slow traffic through the area for several days.
Nov 21, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_19381161
Road crumbles to the sea
At about 3 p.m. in the afternoon, power lines and a palm tree began to sway. When authorities got close enough to inspect the road, a substantial new chunk of the road had completely collapsed, leaving a gaping, deep hole and part of the cliff and road in the ocean.
A section of the cliff where a beach access road also had begun crumbling also appeared to be sheared off as steady rains pelted the area all day Sunday.
No one was injured, but that was just "luck," said Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich.
"It's bad. We're lucky no one got hurt," Trutanich said.
Trutanich was on his way to speak at a chamber of commerce meeting on the Palos Verdes Peninsula when he received a call from a constituent about the new collapse.
"I thought I've got to come here," he said. After he was given an escorted tour through the area, he said, "I was surprised to see the gaping hole in the road."
The muddy street had completely given way in the middle of the 900-foot-long section of the road between Weymouth and Western avenues.
The street had begun to buckle in the summer and was closed by mid-September. Ever since, the community has been put on landslide watch as cracks and fissures opened wider and deeper by the day.
Most recently, city engineers said the land was moving -- both vertically and horizontally -- at a rate of 4 inches per day, heaving itself toward the edge of the cliff and the ocean below.
Some wondered whether more of the street would collapse by daybreak. Trutanich said it didn't look like the landslide was over after his late afternoon tour.
While on the scene, Trutanich called the Los Angeles Police Department to make sure patrols would be watching for trespassers overnight. Authorities continue to stress that the area is extremely dangerous.
"Because this is such a new thing, there are going to be a lot of looky-loos out here," he told a worker at the scene.
Throughout the afternoon, spectators came to the area, braving the rains in hooded jackets and carrying umbrellas.
"Amazing, isn't it?" one man said as he and his wife peered through an 8-foot-tall chain link fence that keeps the public out of the danger zone.
"Wow, this is so weird," said another neighbor.
Several said some of the heavy equipment should be moved off the road. No equipment appeared to be damaged.
Workers are rerouting storm drain lines during the week to prevent more damage as the slide worsens.
A friend who witnessed Sunday's street collapse told Sally Simpson, who lives near the site, that she saw power poles begin to sway and heard a "snapping" noise.
Workers below on the beach told som
Nov 21, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
UPDATE: Portion of overpass collapses
Nov 20, 2011 / 2:23 pm
Retaining wall collapses
Update: The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has issued a press release regarding the collapse of a section of concrete facing wall on the Westside Road Interchange.
Jeff Knight, of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, says the Westside Road Interchange is temporarily closed to traffic to allow for an engineering assessment, which is underway.
"While the assessment and clean-up takes place, traffic southbound on Highway 97 is being diverted up the southbound ramp, then north on Westside Road, on to Nancee Way and then back to Highway 97. "
Detours are in effect for local traffic, using either the Campbell Road Interchange or Hudson Road and Boucherie Road.
Drivers can expect the closure to remain in place overnight.
Knight says the cause of the wall damage is unclear.
"Structural engineers from Urban Systems, the owner's engineer, are thoroughly assessing the wall area and the structure overall to determine the appropriate course of action.
The ministry's will also have engineering experts assessing the structure.
A retaining wall along the north west side of the new West Kelowna overpass collapsed, Sunday morning.
Shoring from the side of the structure has slid down onto the road, blocking a portion of highway 97.
Murray Tekano, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is on scene assessing the damage of the collapse.
"Traffic is moving in both directions so we're happy about that, but this part of the highway is closed and we do not know for how long."
Fire crews and RCMP are on scene to reroute traffic around the overpass. Traffic is heavily backed up along Highway 97 entering West Kelowna.
One commuter stuck in the backed up traffic says, "this sucks, that's good taxpayer money going to waste."
Others commuters complained about the wait to get across the bridge.
The cause of the collapse is unknown but Tekano says the structure doesn't appear be impacted, other than the one side of the retaining wall. No one was injured in this incident.
http://www.castanet.net/news/West-Kelowna/67527/UPDATE-Portion-of-ove
Nov 22, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Kelowna MLA wants answers about wall collapse.
Kelowna-Westside MLA Ben Stewart says he's feeling the same as most residents about the wall collapse at the Westside Road Interchange.
Stewart is wondering how something so new could collapse so quickly.
He says it'll be up to the province's Chief Bridge Inspector to find the answer.
"I think we're looking for some satisfactory solutions that would increase the traffic volume. I know my office has had many suggestions, however the first issue that transportation is concerned with is public safety."
Stewart says the contractor, LEDCOR who will be responsible for the cost of repairs must work to rectify the situation as quickly as possible.
http://www.am1150.ca/News/Local/Story.aspx?ID=1575471
Nov 22, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.kyivpost.com/news/city/detail/117372/
Fallen crane vessel in Kyiv causes fuel spill in Dnipro
Today at 11:11 | Interfax-UkraineThe collapse of the jib of a crane vessel engaged in the construction of the Podilsky Bridge in Kyiv on Nov. 18 caused a spill of fuels and lubricants in the River Dnipro, the Ukrainian Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry's press service has reported.
"State environmental inspectors have taken Dnipro River water samples at the site of the accident. Efforts are being made jointly with the Emergencies Ministry representatives to eliminate the aftermath of the spill and prevent leakage into the Dnipro," reads the statement.
At the same time, the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry's press service told Interfax-Ukraine that no pollution of the environment had been detected.
"The Ukrainian sea and river inspectorate quickly reacted to the report [on the collapse of the crane jib] and sent its employees to the accident site under Transport Ministry order No. 857 dated Nov. 5, 2003, on the regulations of an investigation and registration of transport accidents in the inland waters in Ukraine, which was registered at the Justice Ministry on Jan. 20, 2004, under No. 84/8683," the Infrastructure Ministry said.
The LK-600 Zechariah floating crane with a jib 93.3 meters high and a hoisting capacity being 680 tonnes collapsed at the construction site of the Podilsky Bridge in the Dnipro in Kyiv on Nov. 18, 2011.
The crane vessel was Ukraine's largest, and was built at the Kyiv-based Leninska Kuznia shipyard two years ago.
Nov 22, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.gazettebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=arti...
Traffic along the newly constructed Gaborone-Molepolole road came to a standstill after it collapsed last Friday.
This caused traffic congestions as the lane for traffic to Molepolole was closed and drivers were forced to use Western Bypass which was also stressed by traffic. Drivers feared for their lives. “This is a disturbing situation. I am no longer sure whether I am driving on safe roads or one day I will be stuck in a collapsing road. I really fear for my life. Driving on our roads is a nightmare. If it is not potholes, the road is collapsing. What could have happened if the road collapsed while a car was passing?
This really shows that our roads are of low quality,” said Kaelo Matomela.
One passing pedestrians noted that even those on foot were at risk. Staring at the gaping hole in the middle of the road, he noted that, “This road is new and already is collapsing. What about the other old roads? Are they safe to be used? It is a horrifying situation.”
The acting Director of Roads Mmoloki Baele blamed the Esorfranki Company, which is currently on operations of pipe jacking along Gaborone-Mogoditshane Road by Segoditshane River, for the mishap.
“The Esorfranki Company is currently on operation on behalf of waste management and pollution control to put the pipes underneath the road. These pipes will channel the waste to the sewage network system. To do so they have to drill underneath the road and put their pipes there, this whole drilling might somehow impacted on the road therefore leading to this collapse,” noted Baele.
However, Esorfranki representative, who preferred to remain anonymous, insisted in an interview with The Gazette that their pipes are three meters below the base of the road, which is the recommended length. He noted that the road is built on a water logged area.
“During our operation we leant that there was a high water table underground. The water streamed between our pipes and the base of the road. What happened here is that the water washed away the soil between our pipes and the base of the road, leaving empty spaces or holes which caused this collapse,” indicated Esorfranki representative.
According to the press release from Ministry of Transport and Communication the road is not safe as the collapse has caused the pavement to be unstable therefore there is a possibility that the road will be closed off until there is an assurance that it is safe for road users.
Nov 23, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=751576&publicati...
Road collapses in Tibet, trapping hundreds of cars, people
Nov 25, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2011/11/24/road-closed-by-sewer-...
Road closed by sewer collapse
Thursday 24th November 2011, 11:00AM GMT.
A sewer has collapsed in Stafford town centre, sparking repairs which will take a fortnight to complete and hitting traders in the pocket.
Angry shopkeepers are demanding compensation after a 150-yard stretch of Gaol Road has been closed to deal with the problem, wiping out their pre-Christmas trade.
Severn Trent Water, which is responsible for the repairs, said if left, the sewer would cause an even bigger problem, affecting a wider area. The company said it had no choice but to carry out the work immediately.
Some shopkeepers claim they will lose several thousand pounds a week at what is traditionally their busiest time of year.
Stuart Winfer, of Carpet Time, said he had not had a customer all week. “There are about eight businesses along the affected section and this has completely disrupted our trade,” he said.
“People just can’t get through – it’s like a war zone down here.”
He said it was the second time recently that the road, near Stafford Prison, had been dug up after a six-week programme of repairs earlier this year to replace gas mains. Severn Trent spokeswoman Amy Weiser said today: “The collapsed sewer, if left unrepaired, would have an impact on the service we can provide to our customers and could potentially damage the foundations of the road, so the work must be done immediately.
“There are a lot of other utilities – phone lines, gas mains, and so on – very near to the sewer so we do have to work carefully to avoid causing a bigger problem, but repairs are on schedule, and our workers are doing all they can to accommodate local businesses.
“Although the road is closed to through traffic, access to the businesses is being maintained and we’ve put extra signage up.”
Nov 25, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.680news.com/news/local/article/303060--workers-freed-aft...
Workers freed after wall collapse
It happened just after 5 p.m., Thursday, at 200 Kingsview Boulevard, near Dixon Road and Kipling Avenue.
Police told 680News one worker was freed shortly after the collapse.
It took rescue crews over two hours to free the second person.
EMS crews say they only have information on the condition of one person, who was treated for minor injuries.
Nov 25, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://blog.georgetownvoice.com/2011/11/24/partial-building-collaps...
Partial building collapse on 1400 block of Wisconsin Ave.
Update, 7:55 p.m.: Wisconsin Avenue has been reopened to traffic in both directions, except for one southbound lane, according to MPD.
Update, 7:00 p.m.: This photo (right) was tweeted by the DC Fire Fighters Association. It shows the rear of 1422 Wisconsin, with visible damage done to the roof.
In May, Georgetown Metropolitan reported a reliable rumor that Z Burger would be opening a third restaurant at 1424 Wisconsin (it already has two restaurants on Wisconsin in Tenleytown and Glover Park), one of the structures affected by the collapse.
Original post, 6:09 p.m.: Late this afternoon, the building located at 1422 Wisconsin Avenue partially collapsed, potentially compromising the structure of 1424 Wisconsin as well. MPD and DC Fire responded to the scene, and traffic on Wisconsin between Dumbarton and Q Streets has been diverted indefinitely. According to the Twitter account of the DC Fire Fighters Association, the gas company is still working to shut off the building’s gas supply.
Hours later, the smell of gas remained in the area, but DC Fire said that a gas explosion was not the cause of the collapse. Firefighters told ABC7 News that the building likely collapsed because its construction was unsound. The owner of a neighboring business told ABC that the building had been vacant and under construction for the last three months. DC Fire officials continue to investigate the cause of the collapse.
Nov 25, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.journalofcommerce.com/article/id47736/--retaining-wall-c...
Retaining wall collapses in Kelowna
B.C. MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Part of a retaining wall on Highway 97 in Kelowna collapsed recently. Engineers have been dispatched to figure out a repair scheme.
Structural engineers are assessing a section of concrete retaining wall, which collapsed last week on a new road interchange in the southern interior of British Columbia.
“The forensic review of the collapse that is trying to determine what happened is still underway,” said Kevin Baskin, chief bridge engineer with the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
“So, at this point in time, it would be speculation to conclude what has happened.”
A section of the wall on the Westside Road Interchange in Kelowna gave way on Nov. 20, spilling dirt fill onto one of the southbound lanes of Highway 97, underneath the overpass.
Structural engineers from Urban Systems are assessing the wall area and the structure for the ministry to help determine the appropriate course of action.
According to Baskin, Ledcor, the original contractor on the project, has also mobilized a team of engineers to assess the collapse. This team includes engineers from SSL, the supplier of the retaining wall.
“They are responsible for the design of the retaining wall,” explained Baskin. “They will look at what happened and come up with a repair scheme.” The design consultant for the overpass also has engineering experts assessing the structure.
“We want to review the design calculations and methodology, the construction procedure and methodology and the material that was used to make up the wall system,” said Baskin.
“We certainly will be looking at the failure of the wall connection very closely.” The wall system on the road interchange was a mechanically stabilized earth wall. This is a facing system that is connected to and held in place by steel mesh and soil reinforcement.
The steel mesh is connected to the facing panels and the soil reinforcement is placed in layers all the way up the wall.
The Ministry of Transportation has also been monitoring an abutment supported by the wall system, but there has been no movement.
The Westside Road Interchange was temporarily closed to traffic to allow for the engineering assessment. While the assessment and clean-up takes place, traffic southbound on Highway 97 is diverted up the southbound ramp, north on Westside Road, on to Nancee Way and then back to Highway 97.
Construction of the Westside Road Interchange began in 2009 and the overpass opened to traffic late last month.
The projects were managed by the Westbank First Nation and delivered by Ledcor Construction.
The overall value of the Westside Road Interchange project is $41.8 million, with funding from the provincial and federal governments.
British Columbia invested $30.8 million, with a federal contribution of $11 million from the Building Canada Fund.
Nov 26, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article2663319.ece
Building collapses, roads waterlogged
Over 100 calls pertaining to inundation of low-level areas received by Corporation's toll free helpline
Intermittent showers accompanied by strong winds clocking speeds upto 45 – 55 km/hr led to the collapse of an old building, housing a fancy shop, on Bharathi Salai, Triplicane, late Saturday evening. A 25-year-old youth was injured in the incident. A portion of a house adjacent to the building also fell down, police said.
Elsewhere in the city throughout the day the residents had to contend with waterlogged roads, power disruption, and traffic jams. Every spell of the rain on Saturday brought more problems for the road-users, particularly for two-wheeler riders and cyclists as they were forced to take shelter. In the process, the limited space available on the waterlogged roads was further reduced.
With knee deep water on Santhome High Road, traffic police closed the stretch between MRC Nagar and All India Radio. People returning home in the evening were caught for nearly two hours in crawling traffic on Erukkancheri High Road. The Moolakadai junction where a flyover is being constructed witnessed chaotic traffic.
Water-logging on roads led to slow movement of traffic. “It is tough waiting on flyovers. Applying brakes constantly and changing gears only guzzles up fuel. If only water-logging could be prevented at least on the main roads, it would help in better traffic flow,” said M.Anandan, who took nearly an hour to reach Poonamallee High Road from Adyar in the afternoon.
It was a day when autorickshaw drivers benefited the most. Rates almost doubled, even as most commuters felt the shortage of autorickshaws on roads. The traffic on Anna Salai and Cenotaph Road remained busy even afternoon. “Everyone is using the main roads to avoid driving through waterlogged interior roads. But even these are no good,” said Devarajan, an autorickshaw driver in Adyar.
Nungambakkam High Road, Kaliamman Koil Street, Nesapakkam junction, Valluvar Kottam High Road, MGR Salai, Strahans Road in Pattalam and Brick Kiln Road in Otteri were among the roads that had water stagnation and potholes. Over 100 calls pertaining to inundation of low-level areas in the city was received by the Chennai Corporation's toll free helpline 1913. A tree on LB Roa
Nov 26, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Fifteen-injured-in...
Fifteen injured in elevator collapse
KOLKATA: An elevator at Shree Vishuddhanand hospital on Burtolla Road of a charitable hospital in North Kolkata fell from the third floor, injuring the 15 who were inside it, on Sunday evening. Although most of them escaped miraculously with minor injuries, four were hospitalized with broken legs and spine. The incident happened in Shree Vishuddhanand Hospital on Burtolla Road.
Around 7 p.m., visitor were leaving the hospital in large number.
The hospital lift can carry 10 persons but it was overloaded. The lift suddenly dropped down from the third floor creating panic. Those on the ground floor rushed near the lift hearing the loud thud and the screaming from inside the lift.
Visitors as well as hospital staff managed to break the gate of the lift and rescue the 15.
"We were on the third floor when the lift just started dropping without any control. I thought we were all finished. There was nothing to hold onto. It was very scary. I just closed my eyes and kept screaming for help along with the rest. Thank God I came out alive," narrated Puja Gupta. Gupta who had just visited a relative getting treated in the hospital is now admitted here with knee injury.
Police suspect that the iron cables gave away due to ill maintenance and overloadingand also because the lift was carrying more persons than its capacity. A probe is on. Eleven of the injured are woman.
Nov 28, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/nov/29/nat...
7 escape death as building collapses in Lagos
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Seven people cheateddeath on yesterday when a warehouse situated at No. 144, Oba Akran Road in Ikeja area of Lagos collapsed on its occupants.
Daily Sun learnt that the building which belongs to a major importer of frozen fish in Lagos, caved in around mid-day while workers were trying to off- load frozen fishfrom containers into the warehouse.
An eyewitness who was close to the scene of the incident said those injured were casual workers who were paid daily based on the numbers of cartons loaded into the warehouse from the containers.
The witness explained that there was no initial sign of defection on the building, saying that they were all taken by surprise by the incident.
“It was a new structure that was recently put in place by the management. Loading started about four days ago and each container contains 1400 cartons of fish with each carton weighing 25kg. As at yesterday alone, nine containers were loaded into the warehouse,” he added.
Another witness who identified herself simply as Yemisi said the collapse of the building was caused by the pressure of the cartons of frozen foods, adding that “Warehouse for cold rooms are not decked, the pressure of the products was just too heavy for the building and that could have resulted in the collapse.”
She lamented that the collapse resulted in chaos as the workers who were on duty ran for safety.
“Unfortunately, the man who were injured were on the ground floor of the warehouse, but thank God none of them died, but they sustained serious injuries,” she said.
Speaking on the issue, General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency [LASEMA], Mr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu who was at the scene, said three of the workers who sustained serious injuries were rushed to the Critical Rescue International (CRI), while others were taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for treatment.
He said his team responded promptly to a distress call received, confirming that no life was lost in the unfortunate incident.
“During our course of investigation, we discovered that there were some lapses in the construction of the building. We have checked the building with our machine and we discovered that no one is left in the building. We also used the roll call method. We assembled all the workers and we called their names and also checked their tally numbers which corroborated our findings”, he said
However, a mild drama ensued when Osanyintolu directed the crane to pull down the structure as his order was met by stiff resistance from the workers who almost mobbed him in the process, save for the intervention of some mobile policemen.
The angry workers claimed they had their belongings trapped in the warehouse, fearing that pulling down the structure will leave them with no hope of retrieving them.
T
Nov 29, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Gangway Collapses On HMS Belfast
http://londonist.com/2011/11/hmsbelfastcollapse.php
Reports are coming in of an accident on HMS Belfast. Photos from the Thames attraction appear to show that the main gangway has collapsed into the river. The walkway had been undergoing repair. The cause of the collapse is not yet clear.
Nov 29, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/family-dies-as...
Family dies as walls collapse
November 29 2011 at 10:07am
By Sinegugu Ndlovu and Gugu Mbonambi
Comment on this story
INLSA
Nkanyiso Cindi, 8, looks at his mothers car, which lies in a ditch at their home in Newlands West, after Sunday nights heavy rain. Picture: Bongani Mbatha
It was around 9pm on Sunday night when Nokukhanya Nsibande opened her door because heavy rain had flooded her home.
What she saw filled her with horror – a family being buried alive as the walls of the room they slept in collapsed inwards.
Nokuthula Hadebe, her daughter Keketso Matseletsele, 7, and Hadebe’s boyfriend lived in a room they rented at Nsibande’s house in Clermont.
The room had been extensively damaged by the rain.
“The wall collapsed in front of me. I ran to the wreckage and tried to pull them out. Keketso was still moving at the time. The rain and debris were too much and I called for help when I realised I couldn’t do it alone,” said Nsibande, before burying her head in her hands and weeping. Keketso’s father, Moses Matseletsele, who received the news of his daughter’s death four hours later, was in shock.
At Puntan’s Hill, three-month-old Philasande Mhlongo drowned when the shack she was sleeping in filled with rainwater. Philasande was lying on her bed while her father, Qaphelani Mhlongo, was outside, removing sand which had fallen on the shack.
“I went back inside to fetch a spade and discovered my child drowning in the water. I rushed her to hospital, but she had already died,” he said on Monday.
At Umlazi’s H Section, Lindiwe Zulu died when a tree and sand fell on her shack while she lay asleep with her partner.
The man, who would not be named, said he awoke to find himself outside the shack.
“I must have been pushed outside (the shack). I was shocked when it happened. I tried to save her, but the sand was too much,” he said. Emergency workers removed Zulu’s body from the wreckage at 3am yesterday.
A weather expert said that the above-normal rainfall was expected to persist and strengthen before dying down in the new year.
The weather phenomenon La Nina is believed to be behind the heavy falls.
“One can extrapolate that to the local floods increasing,” he said.
Gloomy, wet weather was predicted for most of this week.
While the Co-operative Governance Department confirmed five deaths from the heavy rain, the eThekwini municipality reported the figure as 10.
In Durban, there were 19 reports of flooding and destroyed shacks at Quarry Road and Puntan’s Hill. Many traffic lights around the city were also not working yesterday.
At the Durban Country Club, golfers arrived to f
Nov 29, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/11/another-building-collapse-cold-c...
Another building collapse: Cold comfort for survivors
By Olasunkanmi Akoni and Monsur Olowoopejo
FOR most Lagosians, it was one disaster too many as they woke up on Monday to witness another shocking building collapse.
But thanks to Mother Nature, no life was lost but six people were not lucky enough as they sustained serious injuries. The incident happened when a portion of a factory, belonging to Haano Industry limited located at No. 144 Oba Akran Road, Ikeja beside Mapleleaf Press Limited, collapsed on the workers.
An eyewitness said the building caved in at about 11:15 am when the workers were loading frozen products from one out of the nine containers recently brought into the country.
It will be recalled that on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 a five storey building collapsed at No 11 Aderibigbe Street, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos, but thankfully no casualty was recorded.
When Vanguard Metro, VM, visited the scene, it was gathered that the six individuals who sustained injuries were casual workers who were being paid based on the number of hours spent in loading and off-loading cartons of fish into the cold room. An eyewitness, Julius Anenei, said he could not ascertain the number of wounded persons but estimated it was up to 10.
*A section of the Haano Industry building after it collapsed
He informed that the building which was still under construction was being used as a cold room, adding: “We were surprised to hear a loud bang and we quickly rushed out from the factory, only to discover that it was the new building that had caved in. We quickly called for help”.
Another eyewitness said that loading started about four days ago and that “yesterday, nine containers containing 1400 cartons of fish with each carton weighing 25kg were brought into the cold room”.
Another eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Matthew, blamed the collapse on the use of substandard materials by the contractor, saying a warehouse meant to house cold room should not have been constructed on a deck but on the ground floor.
“This is because the pressure from each of the cartons will be too heavy for the deck to bear and this is what I believe must have led to the collapse of the building,” Matthew stated.
VM also gathered that following damages to the personal effects of some of the workers, a shouting match soon broke out between them, the company management and the safety officials. It only took assurances to restore what was lost to calm the aggrieved workers.
According to the Safety Manager of the company, Mr. Osazu Kingley: “The collapse occurred at 10:15 am. We were busy working when we suddenly heard a loud noise at 10:00 am and immediately the building caved in. We quickly evacuated our men from the scene. But for the safety measures we took, we would have recorded serious casualti
Nov 30, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20111130/NEWS01/31130000...|head
Photo: Marathon gas station collapse
The scene at the Marathon gas station at Haslett Road and Marsh Road in Haslett, MI Wednesday morning 11/30/2011 after a protective awning over the gas pumps collapsed in Tuesday night's snowstorm. Nobody was injured in the incident. / Rod Sanford | Lansing State Journal
The scene at the Marathon gas station at Haslett Road and Marsh Road in Haslett, MI Wednesday morning 11/30/2011 after a protective awning over the gas pumps collapsed in Tuesday night's snowstorm. Nobody was injured in the incident. / Rod Sanford | Lansing State Journal
UPDATED 10:41 A.M. - HASLETT - When Matt Lentz got a panicked call from the night employee at his Haslett Marathon gas station Tuesday, he couldn't even make out what the man was saying.
And even after the employee explained -- that the canopy covering the station's gas pumps had tipped over and collapsed under the weight of the s
Nov 30, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/Roof_Collapse_Traps_2_Men_Sends_...
WACO (December 1, 2011)--Two men were trapped under the roof of a building that collapsed Thursday morning while the structure was being demolished.
One man was taken by ambulance from the scene at 3859 Chapel Road to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center with undetermined injuries.
The second worker was not injured.
Both men were able to extricate themselves from the rubble before fighters arrived.
Dec 1, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://australianetworknews.com/stories/201112/3383280.htm?desktop
Deadly wall collapse in Indonesia
Eight people have died after a wall collapsed at a residential estate in Indonesia. This incident comes just over a week after a bridge collapse (pictured) there killed 21 people. [AFP]
PHOTO
Eight people have died after a wall collapsed at a residential estate in Indonesia. This incident comes just over a week after a bridge collapse (pictured) there killed 21 people. [AFP]
Last Updated: 17 hours 42 minutes ago
Eight people have been killed after a high wall collapsed on a residential estate on Indonesia's Sulawesi island on Sunday.
The seven-metre-high concrete wall collapsed on several houses in an estate in South Sulawesi's provincial capital of Makassar, burying people underneath.
"Eight bodies were pulled out from the rubble. Eight other people were injured and sent to hospital," provincial police official Abdul Rahman told reporters.
It is not clear how many people are still missing.
The cause of the incident is not known, but one resident says it had been raining there heavily since Saturday.
Despite Indonesia's pace of growth, expected to top six percent this year, investors complain infrastructure is inadequate and that the nation is mired in corruption and red tape.
Last month, 21 people were killed after a 720-metre-long bridge - built to resemble San Francisco's Golden Gate - collapsed over the Mahakam river in East Kalimantan province.
Dec 4, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9402068.City_road_closed_after_buil...
Breaking news Cumberland Place in Southampton closed after partial building collapse
PART of a derelict building has collapsed into a major Southampton road.
Police have shut Cumberland Place after rubble from Grosvenor House, which is due to be demolished, fell into the road during the collapse, at around 11.30am, knocking scaffolding.
Officers have put diversions in place to allow recovery workers and structural engineers to assess the building, near the Grosvenor Square multi-storey car park.
It is not thought anyone was injured in the collapse.
Sue Harrison, who was working in an office opposite, saw the collapse. She said: "It was a real shock. There was a huge cloud of dust. We were all sure the whole building was going to come down.
"It could have ended in complete tragedy."
Police have warned that Cumberland Place could be closed for up to two days as a result of the collapse.
Dec 5, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=489338&type=Metro
Balcony collapse kills woman, quality of construction probed
By Zha Minjie and Bian Yiwen | 2011-12-6 | NEWSPAPER EDITION
Dec 6, 2011
Little remains after the collapse of a sixth-floor balcony on which a woman was washing clothes yesterday.
A sixth-floor downtown apartment balcony collapsed from its base yesterday, sending a woman plunging to her death, police said.
The woman, aged 69 and surnamed Xi, was standing on the balcony about noon when part of it fell to the ground, city police said. The tragedy happened in an aged residential complex on downtown Maotai Road.
A female neighbor said she heard "a huge noise suddenly and thought something was collapsing."
She rushed to the scene and saw Xi lying on the ground. Then she saw the balcony "astonishingly missing from its original position" and the balcony on the fifth floor also damaged from the impact.
Most of the balcony of apartment No. 602 caved in and landed downstairs. Only the bottom still hung on the sixth floor, with a broken sink attached to it.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Apartment No. 502 below, newly sold, was undergoing renovation. Witnesses said workers were removing the windows that once connected to the bottom of the collapsed balcony.
Neighbors said Xi was washing clothes on the balcony when the collapse occurred. She lived alone.
"What a tragedy," said a friend, who consoled Xi's two sons, who rushed to the apartment in the afternoon and were soon carried away by friends, overcome with emotion.
Xi did not live full-time in the apartment, and she had returned from one of her sons' home about a month ago.
"I want somebody to tell me what's going on out there, right now," said one of the woman's sons, surnamed Yan, while local authorities and community staff met to discuss the aftermath.
It was the first such incident to occur in Shanghai in recent memory amid stronger inspections by the construction watchdog. District authorities started a probe for possible design flaws or malpractice during the building's construction.
Wang Jieshan, an official with Changning District Work Safety Administration Bureau, said the renovation work downstairs is being looked at as a possible cause.
But Yan expressed suspicion about poor building quality, as he saw there were no steel bars to hold the balcony from the base.
"Decoration (renovation) could knock out a balcony entirely in one second? I don't buy that," said Yan.
A senior construction engineer surnamed Bian also said the balcony should have steel bars as protection under building code requirements.
Long cracks could be seen on other balconies in the complex. Neighbors said the aged community has not been renovated.
Neighbors said they worried about their own safety as the authorities suggested that they not stay at home or balconies all the time. Safety checks on the structures will be carried out soon, officials said.
The complex of buildings, constructed in the late 1980s, has about 900 apartments.
Dec 5, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Posted by Sevan today,
http://poleshift.ning.com/profiles/blogs/nigeria-12-pupils-escape-d...
Dec 7, 2011
Starr DiGiacomo
Three hurt in building collapse
By our correspondent
LAHORE: Three labourers were injured when an under-construction building collapsed in the Shadbagh police area on Wednesday. According to Rescue 1122, labourers were busy in working on an under-construction building located near Amir Road, Shadbagh, when the building collapsed and three labourers were buried under the debris. Rescuers removed the trapped labourers from the debris and rushed them to hospital where their condition was stated to be out of danger. The injured were identified as Sattar Ahmad, 32, Babar, 20 and Makhdoom, 21.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=81214&Cat=2
Dec 8, 2011