Sunday, September 13, 2009

5 Hong Kong construction workers die in fall down elevator shaft of skyscraper

H
ONG KONG — At least five workers died Sunday in a fall down an elevator shaft of a skyscraper under construction in Hong Kong, police said. One other was injured.

The accident happened at the International Commerce Center in the Kowloon district, which will be 118 stories high when completed next year, making it one of the tallest buildings in world, as well as the tallest in Hong Kong.

Speaking at the scene, Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang said the men fell after a working platform collapsed in the elevator shaft.

Five male workers died, including two declared dead at the scene, said police spokeswoman Anne Lam. One other worker was believed to be receiving treatment at the site.

Police could not confirm a report on the Web site of government-owned radio RTHK that the workers fell from the 30th floor to the 10th floor.

The building’s developer, major Hong Kong property firm Sun Hung Kai, has agreed to pay each of the victims’ families 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($128,000) on top of normal compensation payments, Hong Kong labor secretary Matthew Cheung told local media.

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