Building damage traced to metro

The sinking ground that has caused serious damage to several buildings in a residential compound in Taopu town in Putuo district resulted from the construction of metro Line 11, a town official said Tuesday.

Several buildings at Shiliu Garden, a residential compound at 36 Lüyang Road, have started to lean because of land subsidence, according to a news report on Shanghai Television Station.

Inside the buildings, cracks have appeared in the walls, some large enough to stick a hand into. In some apartments, window and door frames have warped, making it difficult for occupants to close their doors and windows, according to the report.

The problems ultimately stem from the construction of metro Line 11, which began in 2007, said an official surnamed Gong with the Taopu Town People's Government.

Residents said the problems began about seven years ago, according to the report.

In some places, pieces of the outer walls have broken off and injured residents of the compound, which was built in 1997 near Taopu Xincun Station. One resident said his wife was hurt by a falling cement block. Another resident said a piece of the ceiling hit her son in the head while he was doing his homework.

Digging underground caused the land to sink underneath the foundation, leaving it unable to support the rest of the building, said Li Nansheng, a professor with the College of Civil Engineering at Tongji University.

If its load-bearing structures are damaged, the building should be rebuilt, Li told the Global Times. If the load-bearing structures remain intact, the problem can be corrected by filling in the sunken areas underground.

The Putuo District Construction and Transportation Commission and Shanghai Shentong Metro Group have worked out a plan to solve the problem, said an official surnamed Wu with the Putuo District People's Government.

Wu did not disclose details about the plan.