CHINA> Center
Trapped workers likely dead in subway tunnel collapse
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-18 21:05


 A vehicle lies trapped at the site of a collapsed subway tunnel in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, November 18, 2008. [Agencies]

"In Shanghai, there is a supporting pole every few meters. If there were enough poles here in Hangzhou, my colleagues would have a bigger chance to survive," said Song.

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Zhao Tiechui, deputy head of the state work safety administration, led a task force to investigate the cause of the accident. They were told cracks had appeared on the road surface and the roadbed had sunk nearby the construction site more than one month ago.

Fu Meizhen, a local resident, recalled that cracks of 2 to 3 cm wide and a meter long had appeared on the road about a week ago, right where the collapse took place.

Fu's account was confirmed by Ye Zhiguo, a surviving welder.

"The construction company noticed the subsiding and had began to remedy it by paving the roadbed and inserting steel bars. These efforts continued until the collapse," said Ye.