In Taiwan, a 21-year-old undergraduate dies after being struck by a falling air-con unit while waiting at the bus stop
TAIWAN – A 21-year-old undergraduate named Huang from National Chengchi University died after being struck by a 30 kg air-conditioning unit that fell from the 17th floor of a building while she was waiting at a bus stop near Xinpu MRT Station in Banqiao district.
In a video circulating online, the young woman can be seen walking towards the bus stop at 1:06 pm, wearing casual clothes, a mask, and carrying a backpack. Within seconds, the air-conditioning unit fell and hit her, narrowly missing another woman who was nearby. Thankfully, that woman noticed the falling object and managed to step away just in time.
Huang suffered severe injuries, including a large gash on her head and broken legs. She was attended to by her sister and other bystanders before being rushed to Far Eastern Memorial Hospital. Tragically, despite the efforts, she was declared dead by the doctors.
The cause of the accident was attributed to a worker who allegedly failed to secure the air-conditioning unit properly to the window frame on the 17th floor. As a consequence, the 31-year-old worker was fined NT$300,000 (approximately P 528,000) by the Labor Standard Inspection Office in New Taipei. The employer was also fined NT$60,000 (approximately P 105,000) for not informing about the potential danger during the installation.
National Chengchi University expressed sadness over the incident and stated that they would provide support to the victim’s family during this difficult time.
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