Report on Taiwan Earthquake - September 1999
The following is the latest report from the MAE Center Investigation Team (as of October 3, 1999). Please visit the web page for briefing sessions on the Taiwan Earthquake Atlanta, Chicago and St. Louis).
Collapse of Apartment Building in Taipei
Buildings A and B are being held up by steel framing and jacks. The buildings were leaning and had to be jacked up vertically. Building C has been almost totally removed as of September 30. The lower left of Building C was removed (photo to lower right) to conduct search and rescue operations. Eighty people lost their lives. All were found except six who were buried in the rubble. Both Buildings A and B will be torn down. The photo to the lower left shows shear cracks in the base-story columns of Buildings A and B.
The building (Building 1) with scaffolding and the large wide-flange bracing to prevent toppling is a twin to the one (Building 2) just to the left that is still standing. The standing twin has no lateral support in that the columns have basically failed in bending at the top and bottom on the street level floor as shown in the next three files. The building is now being supported vertically by temporary steel columns setting on top of jacks to keep the building plumb. Note that Building 1 initially collapsed on the street level first floor at the corner closest to the camera. When this happened, the upper part of the building went down two floors to the bottom of the two-level basement. The street level floor was open and about 4 meters tall. The hoops were spaced at about 2 inches, however, the 90 degree hooks were all placed at one corner of the column.
Collapse of Apartment Building in Taipei
Building A Building B Building C
Rubble and Damage to Base-Story Columns
Buildings A and B are being held up by steel framing and jacks. The buildings were leaning and had to be jacked up vertically. Building C has been almost totally removed as of September 30. The lower left of Building C was removed (photo to lower right) to conduct search and rescue operations. Eighty people lost their lives. All were found except six who were buried in the rubble. Both Buildings A and B will be torn down. The photo to the lower left shows shear cracks in the base-story columns of Buildings A and B.
MAE Center Team Member, Riley Chung interacting with local officials
The building (Building 1) with scaffolding and the large wide-flange bracing to prevent toppling is a twin to the one (Building 2) just to the left that is still standing. The standing twin has no lateral support in that the columns have basically failed in bending at the top and bottom on the street level floor as shown in the next three files. The building is now being supported vertically by temporary steel columns setting on top of jacks to keep the building plumb. Note that Building 1 initially collapsed on the street level first floor at the corner closest to the camera. When this happened, the upper part of the building went down two floors to the bottom of the two-level basement. The street level floor was open and about 4 meters tall. The hoops were spaced at about 2 inches, however, the 90 degree hooks were all placed at one corner of the column.
Bottom of Column in Building 1
Top of Base-Story Column Close-up of Beam Reinforcement
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