Taipei:Four individuals were injured in a scaffolding collapse at the demolition site of Taipei's Old Beitou Market on Tuesday morning. The incident prompted city authorities to halt all work at the site and levy the maximum contractual penalty against the contractor involved.
According to Focus Taiwan, the collapse happened around 1035 a.m. at a three-story demolition site on Xinshi Street in Beitou District. The Taipei City Fire Department reported that a section of scaffolding, spanning three stories and measuring approximately 5 meters by 18 meters, fell at the site. Among those injured was a male construction worker who fell from the third floor, sustaining serious injuries but remaining conscious. Three passersby also suffered minor injuries, and all four individuals were transported to a hospital for treatment.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, speaking at the scene, noted that the building had already been demolished, but the scaffolding was not removed as required, leading to its collapse. The city has decided to enforce the maximum penalty of NT$2.5 million (US$76,234) on the contractor. The city's Construction Management Office has suspended all work and is conducting an investigation to ascertain responsibility for the incident. Structural and civil engineering experts have been called to inspect the site and determine the cause of the collapse.
In response to the accident, city agencies established a forward command post to manage the situation. Mayor Chiang assured that work would not resume until safety reviews are completed. Additionally, his campaign team paused election activities, as his wife, Shih Fang-hsuan, was nearby during the collapse and later accompanied him to visit the injured at the hospital.
Coincidentally, the accident occurred on the same day the Ministry of Labor (MOL) released data indicating a 9 percent decrease in fatal major occupational accidents in Taiwan over the first nine months of 2026. However, fatalities in the construction sector have risen, with falls accounting for 62 percent of construction-related deaths. MOL officials highlighted safety management challenges in multi-tiered subcontracting arrangements, noting that 74 percent of construction workers killed in accidents were employed by subcontractors.
In response to these ongoing safety issues, the MOL has tightened regulations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, requiring principal contractors to better define safety management responsibilities. The ministry also plans joint inspections of technology factory construction projects and is promoting third-party safety oversight to help reduce workplace accidents.
