Escalator Malfunction Leaves 1 Dead, 28 Injured

Lauren McCarthy | Jul 5, 2011 2:00 pm | 13 comments | 6440 reads

Earlier this morning an escalator malfunction at Line 4’s Dongwuyuan [Beijing Zoo] Station left 28 hurt and one dead. Exact details about the breakdown are unknown but Exit A at the station has been temporarily shut down.

The news was reported on Chinese news site QQ.com providing little information other than an indication of an equipment breakdown. Further information on the site's blog suggests a sudden change in direction from moving upwards to downwards was to blame.

All injured were brought to the hospital with two serious injuries and 26 minor ones. The Beijing MTR Corporation Ltd. started their contingency plan and formed the accident investigation team.

Beijing’s subway made news last month after a malfunctioning door left car with nothing but a yellow curtain over the open space as the train remained in service.

Comments

New comments are displayed first.

Comments

Nidaye's picture Nidaye Submitted by Guest on Thu, 07/07/2011 - 14:05

nakaibj wrote:
No they were made by OTIS in USA same as the Discovery Spacecraft which blew up in mid air and killed all aboard was made in USA !!

I could be wrong, but I'm fairly certain that these OTIS-branded escalators are made in China.

In anycase, if it's not properly maintained, then it doesn't matter where it was made.

admin's picture admin Submitted by Guest on Thu, 07/07/2011 - 13:17

lucreziab wrote:
Actually the escalators were 2 years old. That's like 14 years old in Beijng years. It sounds like they were not properly maintained either. Since bolts came unscrewed. Then the fault lies with the maintenance crew who are local for not properly maintaining them. Sad really. Just look at new buildings after a year or two. They start to fall apart.

... meanwhile, the people who made the money off building them in the first place have already immigrated to Canada.

Books by current and former Beijinger staffers

http://astore.amazon.com/truerunmedia-20

lucreziab's picture lucreziab Submitted by Guest on Thu, 07/07/2011 - 12:41

Actually the escalators were 2 years old. That's like 14 years old in Beijng years. It sounds like they were not properly maintained either. Since bolts came unscrewed. Then the fault lies with the maintenance crew who are local for not properly maintaining them. Sad really. Just look at new buildings after a year or two. They start to fall apart.

admin's picture admin Submitted by Guest on Thu, 07/07/2011 - 11:53

nakaibj wrote:
No they were made by OTIS in USA same as the Discovery Spacecraft which blew up in mid air and killed all aboard was made in USA !!

accidents are pretty rare on escalators, but not unheard of
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escalator#Accidents_and_litigation

Books by current and former Beijinger staffers

http://astore.amazon.com/truerunmedia-20

charliedontsurf's picture charliedontsurf Submitted by Guest on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:48

Wow, now I need to add escalators to my list of things to be afraid of. I guess I was always kind of scared of them before, but I was more scared that my pant leg would get caught in one. It never crossed my mind that it would suddenly change direction.

It's one more reason, besides exercise and the fact that it's quicker in many cases, that you should always take the stairs.

admin's picture admin Submitted by Guest on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 10:03

as if this story couldn't be more tragic, the person who died was a 13-year-old kid who was on his way to the zoo with his dad

Sad
http://english.cri.cn/6909/2011/07/05/189s646516.htm

Books by current and former Beijinger staffers

http://astore.amazon.com/truerunmedia-20

walls's picture walls Submitted by Guest on Tue, 07/05/2011 - 15:13

Just the other day a friend and I commented on how steep the escalators are in some of the exits.

Why would an escalator be able to change direction so quickly? Made where? Who installed it? Who maintained it?

I love my planet Vulcan. I'm proud of being a Vulcan in the universe.

Kareena's picture Kareena Submitted by Guest on Tue, 07/05/2011 - 15:13

Life is so short , go in morning from home and never know if you back in evening... But little peoples see this... Most of them are interested in hard business and they can't stop at time , the stress is terrible on them, but they don't see life is so short... For those who do this, I wish them see the real sense of life , don't live for eat, eat for living !

Condoleances to the family's person who was dead in this accident ... Sad

Validate your mobile phone number to post comments.