Collapsing Buildings and Roadways

[Starr DiGiacomo]

Highway collapse, Jingdong, China, 03.11.25

Building Collapse in Manchester, UK

October 17, 2025, a playground collapsed at Zijiang School in Shaoyang City, Hunan Province, fortunately no casualties were reported. The Zijiang School playground collapse emergency response headquarters announced on Saturday that they have begun an investigation to the cause.

The emergency response headquarters confirmed that the west wall and some playgrounds of the campus of the school collapsed, and the corners of the west side of the Boxue Building (teaching building) were damaged.

ZETATALK: THE STRETCH ZONE, THAT SINKING FEELING

ZetaTalk explores the concept of Earth's "stretch zones"—regions where tectonic plates are being pulled apart due to planetary forces, particularly in anticipation of a predicted pole shift. It focuses heavily on the eastern seaboard of the U.S., the Caribbean, and parts of Europe, warning that these areas will experience significant land subsidence due to the widening of the Atlantic Rift.

Key points include:

• Historical evidence of submerged forests and civilizations off the U.S. East Coast and Bermuda.

• Predictions that areas like Florida, Georgia, and the UK will lose elevation and be permanently flooded.

• A detailed catalog of sinkholes, train derailments, infrastructure collapses, and mysterious odors from 2004–2005, interpreted as signs of Earth stretching.

• The concept of “imploding cities”, where underground infrastructure fails due to shifting rock layers.

• Warnings to relocate from vulnerable coastal and low-lying areas before the pole shift occurs.

More: https://www.zetatalk.com/index/blog1010.htm

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Jan-21/160614-unsa...

Unsafe Moseitebeh building evacuated

BEIRUT: Beirut’s governor ordered the evacuation of a Beirut apartment complex Wednesday, deeming it unsafe. In the final hours before the buildings’ doors were to be locked Friday afternoon, frustrated residents were still packing their belongings. “We’ve been in this apartment since 1993,” said one middle-aged resident of the Moseitebeh trio of buildings that residents say was built in the late 1970s. “We renovated the entire apartment several times ... but cracks keep appearing in the walls.”

The man, who did not want his name published, points to cracks and water damage that he has tried to cover up with painting and strategic decoration. Like most of the building’s residents, he owns his apartment. “We notified the municipality more than seven months ago [about problems in the building] but no one listened,” he said.

His apartment was nearly empty Friday, except for some large furniture, including a display case with family photos and sports trophies.

There are at least 65 apartments in the three 11-story buildings. In a letter Wednesday from Beirut governor Nassif Qaloush to the unnamed owners of the buildings known as the “Jumaa Moseitebeh,” Qaloush said that the complex “threatens the lives of residents and passersby.”

Across the hall, near exposed pipes and crumbling stairs, Fatmeh Fadel said she isn’t going anywhere, even though electricity and water are set to be cut. Her carpets were rolled up and stacked on a couch, a few bags were packed, and she pulled back a curtain to show the fissures in her wall. But “I haven’t found another apartment,” she said. “I can’t afford one ... I’ll stay with my daughter and husband unless they find me another apartment.”

Help for Fadel and others may not arrive soon. All residents who spoke to The Daily Star said neither the government nor political parties have offered any assistance. Bilal Hamad, Beirut’s mayor, told The Daily Star that he understood the Higher Relief Committee was in charge of helping with temporary relocation and financial issues. But residents are unaware of this, nor are they aware of when they will be able to return, and HRC representatives could not be reached for comment.

Occupants aren’t sure who owns the building, but several said the Amal Movement was in control, and the party’s insignia adorns the entrance. A spokesperson for the party dismissed the claim, but said they had an office in the area.

Hamad said that a firm has been contracted to study the building and evaluate the necessary renovations. He said he thinks “the building could be repaired,” but added it would need “a complete, detailed structural repair” before anyone can return.

The closure seems to have been prompted by last weekend’s collapse of an Ashrafieh building that killed 27 people. But Hamad said the issue of safety at the complex “has been hanging for a long time. Since the Ashrafieh building went down, people are thinking about this seriously. I think it [the building] was ignored until this crisis happened.” He added that there will “probably” be future evacuations, not just in Beirut. “I’ve seen tens, hundreds of buildings like this.”

Carrying a closet door on his back to his parent’s house across the street, Nabil Hamdan said his family, brother and sister are moving

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/two-die-in-dubai-scaffoldin...

Two die in Dubai scaffolding collapse

Jan 21, 2012 

At least four construction workers fell to their deaths and several others were injured in two separate incidents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi this weekend after scaffolding on which the men were working collapsed.

In Dubai, two workers died and nine were injured when the scaffolding on a building under construction in Dubailand collapsed this morning. The injured workers were rushed to Rashid Hospital by helicopter. A large number of ambulances and rescue teams rushed to the scene.

A police officer at the accident site confirmed that two workers had died. “Investigations are going on to find the cause of the accident,” the policeman said. “Two workers are dead and nine injured.”

The accident happened at the seven-storey residential building under construction in Dubailand opposite Dubai Silicon Oasis, on Dubai Al Ain Road, at around 11am today.

Rescue dogs were released on the scene to search for any more bodies that may have been trapped under the debris. Hundreds of workers were at the site when the scaffolding crumbled. They were painting from outside and fixing glass at the time of the incident.

Workers ran out in fear of their lives soon after the collapse. “I thank God for being alive,” said the Indian worker Ashwini Kumar, adding that he held on to a pipe to survive. “The scaffolding collapsed like a pack of cards. I shivered in fear that I would be dead.” He said that 30 to 40 workers were on the scaffolding. “People were screaming and shouting as it fell off. Some people were pulled out of the rubble to take them to the hospital. It’s a frightening scene,” Mr Kumar said, adding that most of the workers at the site were from India and Bangladesh.

A watchman at the site said he heard a big noise. “It’s like a cyclone as everything fell off,” he said. “There was big sound.”

Some of the workers were taken inside the ambulance to receive first aid. Two dead bodies could be seen lying at the site, wrapped in plastic sheets on the stretcher before police removed them. “I saw some workers being taken to the hospital with broken legs and blood all over their bodies,” said another worker.

The site has been sealed as the investigation continues.

In Abu Dhabi, five men fell yesterday from a residential building under construction next to the Euro Hotel on Muroor Road in the Al Falah area. Two of the men, an Indian and a Bengali, died on the spot, witnesses said. The other three were taken to hospital.

Several people who witnessed the accident, which happened around 10.30am on Friday before the prayer, were emotionally shaken by it.

Last Updated:Dec 30, 2011

The number of construction accidents reported to the municipality has increased this year over 2010. Reducing the rate is not only a matter of enforcement.

National Editorial

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://nvonews.com/2012/01/21/two-killed-in-workshop-collapse-in-gu...

Two killed in workshop collapse in Gurgaon

January 21, 2012

Gurgaon, (IANS) At least two employees of a company were Saturday killed and over 10 people injured when a part of its workshop in IMT Manesar in this satellite town of the national capital collapsed, an official said.

The workshop of Maruti India Ltd’s ancillary company Napino Auto and Electronics Ltd’s building in (industrial model township) IMT Manesar fell when over a dozen employees were inside it.

“There was a huge machine setup which suddenly fell along with the pillars and roof,” investigation officer Surender Singh told IANS.

“The victims were rushed to hospital where two workers were declared dead on arrival. Situation of four workers is stated to be critical.”

Those killed were identified as Bhagirath and Naresh Kumar. Bhagirath hails from Uttar Pradesh’s Faizabad and Naresh from Rajasthan.

Senior officials from the police, fire and labour departments were on the spot.

Napino Auto and Electronics Ltd is situated adjacent to Maruti’s main plant in IMT Manesar. Besides trims and other interior items and sheets of cars, Napino manufactures the parts of Hero Moto Corp which was earlier known as Hero Honda.

[Starr DiGiacomo]

Road collapse on southbound Oregon 43 means long delays again today between Lake Oswego and Portland

Published: Friday, January 20, 2012, 6:54 AM     Updated: Friday, January 20, 2012, 7:04 AM

The Oregonian’s continuing coverage of the flooding and landslides ...

Drivers should expect delays of up to 2 hours or more on Oregon 43 south today between Lake Oswego and Portland.

Transportation authorities closed the right lane at Military Road Thursday night after the road surface collapsed. Damage is substantial, and there is no estimate for how long it will take to make repairs.

Alternate routes are suggested. Check Tripcheck for updates.

The closure will make for a second difficult morning commute for drivers headed into Portland.

On Thursday morning the Oregon Department of Transportation closed Oregon 43 for about 40 minutes to clear a tree that had fallen in the heart of the commute.

http://www.oregonlive.com/roadreport/index.ssf/2012/01/expect_long_...

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2012/01/20/section-of-18th-street-near-...

Section Of 18th Street Near Union Station Collapses

January 20, 2012 8:53 AM

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) -  Crews are working to determine whether a collapsed pipeline or something else caused a 20′-x-2′ section of 18th Street to buckle early Friday.

The giant hole just north of Poplar in the northbound lanes created little in the way of traffic problems, although one driver badly scraped the bottom of his car before city police and road crews were able to block it off.

A worker on the scene told KMOX News that the bridge where the damage took place was just fine structurally and there was little chance of further collapse.

However, he says they’re hoping to get below ground and determine exactly what the problem is so they can start repairs as quickly as possible before the freezing rain and sleet in the forecast arrives.

Officials with the Metropolitan Sewer District have been called to the scene and the right lane of northbound 18th Street remains closed to traffic.

[Starr DiGiacomo]

Newmarket Classrooms Closed Over Fear Of Ceiling Collapse

Structural Problems Found In Parts Of High School

POSTED: 5:16 pm EST January 20, 2012
UPDATED: 5:57 pm EST January 20, 2012

NEWMARKET, N.H. -- Three classrooms at Newmarket Junior and Senior High School have been closed out of concern that their ceilings might collapse.A report from a structural engineer hired by school officials noted that some classroom ceilings are pulling away from their supports. Superintendent Jim Hayes closed the three first-floor classrooms indefinitely."There's a lot of use of these rooms, and we're stressed for space as it is," he said.The rooms are in the oldest part of the school that was built in the 1920s. On Jan. 4, a custodian found part of the building's original plaster ceiling crumbling.Structural engineers determined that the old first-floor ceiling is all that holds up the more modern ceiling grids of lights and tiles. Hayes said engineers determined that the entire ceiling could suddenly collapse in those rooms.Hayes said both ceiling layers will have to be replaced in the three closed rooms and eight or nine others."We do have other rooms that are compromised and sections of hallway that are compromised, but these are the most egregious areas, these three classrooms, and so the others will be part of a program of remediation once we fix these," he said.Some old electrical wires were also found in the ceilings, including some exposed live wires. Hayes said the costs and timeline of repairs isn't known. He said funding is also a question."It's really crucial that the Legislature lift its moratorium on school building aid," he said.Some parents are calling on voters and state lawmakers to support funding for improvements and, ultimately, a new school.

Read more: http://www.wmur.com/news/30263912/detail.html#ixzz1k3fbudIq

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://kxro.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/mccleary-school-building-colla...

MCCLEARY SCHOOL BUILDING COLLAPSES UNDER WEIGHT OF SNOW

January 19, 2012 KXRO Newsradio

Heavy snow and ice has caused multiple buildings to collapse in Grays Harbor. McCleary Police Chief George Crumb tells KXRO that an annex building used as storage by the McCleary School District looks to have collapsed from the weight of snow. Residents called in to report the collapsed building.

Chief Crumb says that he was able to talk with Superintendent Dan Bolender and was told that the building had been used as storage and recently had an office installed. A wall separated the 2 sides of the annex building which prevented the entire structure from collapsing. McCleary School was closed today due to the winter weather. No staff or students appear to have been inside at the time.

The Fire department has cornered off the area until it can be further examined by school officials.

According to Grays Harbor County Emergency Management Deputy Director Chuck Wallace, 16 inches of snow have been reported in the east county area. Due to recent large amounts of snow, collapsing buildings is one of the dangers officials are concerned with as the snow thaws.

Photos courtesy of Grays Harbor Down @mcclearysarah

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/191130/288/Cuba-building-coll...

Cuba building collapses killing 3, injuring 6

HAVANA, Cuba (CBS) -- Three people died and six were injured last night when the side wall of a three storey building collapsed inward bringing down the roof leaving only the façade, back wall and other side wall standing.

The building on Salud and Infanta streets in Central Havana had been condemned but people had continued to live there. Cuban TV's midday newscast reports three people died in the collapse and six were injured, four of whom remain hospitalized.

Not unusual for Cubans to refuse to leave condemned building because they have nowhere else to go or do not want to go to a government shelter. Poor or deteriorated housing is major problem throughout Cuba and particularly in the capital and a massive housing shortage often forces extended families to live in overcrowded housing.

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story/Road-surface-collapse-causes-...

Road surface collapse causes lane closure on I-81

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has closed the left lane on I-81 southbound from exit 28 to Taft Road and North Syracuse to exit 27 (Syracuse Airport) due to a road surface collapse.

The southbound left lane will be closed due to slope failure and the undermining of the left shoulder and lane until further notice, according to 511ny.org.

Expect delays if you’re headed in that direction. Motorists are advised to seek an alternate route if possible.

We have a crew on the way to the scene and will bring you the very latest on the closure tonight on NewsChannel 9 11 @ 11:00, and right here on 9WSYR.com.

[Starr DiGiacomo]

http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=448670

Ceiling collapses over pool at Holiday Inn Express

Share4

01/16/2012, 9:46 pm

The interior ceiling over a swimming pool and Jacuzzi area inside an Ottawa hotel collapsed Monday afternoon.

Ottawa firefighters raced to Holiday Inn Express, 120 W. Stevenson Road, at 2:06 p.m. and quickly assessed, with the assistance of hotel management, that no one was in the pool or hot tub at the time of the incident.

The cause of the collapse is still under investigation.

At the scene, fire chief Jeff Newbury told The Times the ceiling fell in across the entire length of the room causing "significant" damage. A pipe in the building's sprinkler system was broken in the incident and water to the entire building was shut off for a time.

No injuries were reported.

Without an operating sprinkler system, the hotel was immediately closed to guests for safety concerns.

Newbury said he or the city's building inspector would have to examine the hotel after staff members put the sprinkler system back into proper service later in the day to allow the business to reopen.

The building is owned by the Interstate Hotel Group in Downers Grove and is managed locally by Janko Hospitality.

Andy Bridwell, vice president of hotel operations, arrived quickly on the scene to inspect the damage.

"It was fortunate that no one was in the pool area at the time of the incident and we have already begun to make arrangements to begin repairs," said Bridwell.

Bridwell added overnight guests were being directly to the other hotels near Interstate 80 managed by Janko Hospitality until Holiday Inn Express reopens.