Crane falls from top of Taipei Taiwan building during earthquake killing 5.
March 30, 2002
Event: Earthquake. Richter Magnitude 7.1; depth 33km; over 300 aftershocks up to Richter Magnitude 4.8
Impact: 5 dead; >200 injured; minor structural damage. Economic and insured loss data not yet available
Summary: The quake caused panic and some damage in NE Taiwan and Taipei County. Five construction workers were killed when two cranes fell from the 60th floor of the Taipei Financial Centre, currently under construction.
The Taipei rapid transport system was suspended for several hours for safety checks and mobile phone networks were down for 30 minutes. Semiconductor manufacturing and other industries were unaffected.
Some buildings were declared unsafe and their residents evacuated.
Landslides blocked roads in mountainous terrain.