Weak scaffolding blamed for kindergarten collapse

Hanoi's Nam Tu Liem District Construction Inspectors have announced that a kindergarten construction site collapsed because of weak scaffolding.

The kindergarten collapsed at around 3 am

According to Tran Viet Trung, deputy director of Hanoi Department of Construction, when the builders completed pouring the third concrete floor of the Vuon Xanh kindergarten, the scaffolding shook and the new floor soon collapsed because it couldn't bear the weight. The floors below also collapsed. The second floor was completed a month ago.

The Hanoi Department of Construction asked the contractor to halt construction and district authorities to determine areas that may have a similar incident. Nam Tu Liem Department of Construction asked related parties to submit documents about the construction, consultant and supervisor.

On August 22, the Inspectorate of Nam Tu Liem Department of Construction inspected the construction and asked the investor to fix safety signs and the covers on the construction. A week later, the investor submitted the missing documents and was given permission to continue.

The incident is under investigation. Hanoi Department of Construction said they would determine the individual responsibility.

The project is designed to include three connected buildings, four floors and a basement. Nearly 500 square metres of the construction suddenly collapsed at around 3 am on September 25. The workers were still working at the time when the construction started shaking. The builders were able to escape.