Road in Taichung's Nantun Collapses Without Warning 台中南屯路面塌陷 自來水管線破裂釀禍

A road collapsed without warning in Taichung's Nantun on Oct. 27, leaving a 3-meter-wide hole in the middle of the road. The collapse was caused by a broken 41-year-old tap water pipe. Fortunately, no one was hurt and the road has reopened to traffic.

This road was closed after a part of it sank, leaving a 3-meter-wide hole behind. The incident occurred at the intersection of Taichung's Dadun Road and Dadun 5th Street on the afternoon of the 27th. The collapse was attributed to a broken water pipe.

You Yueh-chu, Datong Borough Chief, Nantun District: “It started out with a small hole that grew and grew to 3 meters wide or over 4 pings in size.”

Fortunately, no cars were driving on the road -- located in a densely populated and high-traffic area -- at the time of the collapse. Police quickly closed the intersection. Taiwan Water says the pipe in question was 41 years old and broke because it was old. 

Chang Yu-hao, Deputy Director, Taiwan Water Corp. 4th District Management Office: “The pipe in question was installed in 1981, so it was kind of old. It was old, so it broke.”

Lai Wei-li, Section Head, Maintenance Office, Taichung: “We sent personnel over right away to help direct traffic and confirm it was caused by a leak. The city government reported the leak to Taiwan Water right away. No workers were injured when the surface of the road collapsed. The city government will ask Taiwan Water to implement water pipe management and inspections.”

Taiwan Water says water was restored to the area by 10 p.m. that night and the road reopened to traffic on the morning of the 28th.

 

路面出現一個大型坑洞，警方在現場擺設交通錐，經過車輛紛紛閃避，台中市南屯大墩路與大墩五街口，27日下午突然塌陷，坑洞直徑約為3公尺寬，建設局請怪手到現場開挖，發現是自來水管線破裂。

南屯區大同里里長游月珠指出：「開始只一個小洞，後來就越大，差不多有3公尺，4坪多。」

當地是人口密集區，路口車流量也相當大，所幸地點就在派出所斜對面，坍塌時剛好沒有人車經過，員警很快就封鎖路口協助交通疏導。自來水公司表示，破裂的自來水管已經使用41年，因太過老舊而毀損，工程團隊連夜搶修找尋漏水點。

自來水公司第四區管理處副處長張裕浩說道：「它那個是因為那支管子是民國70年埋設的，你知道比較老舊了喔，老舊的損壞這樣子。」

台中市建設局養工處隊長賴偉立表示：「第一時間即抵達現場協助交通維持及車輛疏導作業，並經試劑檢測為自來水管漏所致，本府即刻通報自來水公司辦理搶修，該路面下陷案並無相關人員傷亡情形，後續本府將責請自來水公司，落實自來水管線管理及沿線管線調查。」

水公司表示，27日晚間10時已搶修完畢復水，路面回填工作則在28日上午完成開放通行，對當地民生交通影響降到最低。