Subsidence shows construction needs supervising

A WORKER WAS KILLED last week at a subway construction site in Dongguan, Guangdong province, when 300 square meters of land in the downtown area subsided, creating a hollow pit dozens of meters deep in a few seconds. Land subsidence has hit the construction site six times in the past three years. Comments:

The recent typhoon and rainstorm raised the level of the groundwater sharply. The geological conditions under this section of road are poor, as there is a thick layer of sand which can be easily washed away by water. The subsidence will not affect the subway's operation in the future, and will not delay the construction. And if the safety standards cannot be met, the subway will not be put into operation.

A spokesperson for the Guangdong Pearl River Delta Intercity Rail Transport Co Ltd, Dongguan, August 16