Going, going ... Chinese ‘tofu’ tower toppled by wind
Centrepiece of property project reduced to pile of broken timber by gale that should have only caused minor damage at most
Winds barely strong enough to rattle roof tiles have brought down a 23-storey tower in southwestern China, raising questions about the safety of the overall project.
The tower, a feature of a property project under construction in Kaili, Guizhou province, came down on Thursday during 75-88km/h (46-55mph) gales, winds the city’s weather bureau said should cause only “slight structural damage, Guiyang Evening News reported on Saturday.
The collapse was caught on video, showing the structure lean and pillars snap at ground level before the whole building tips over.
No one was hurt, but the tower was reduced piles of broken timber and bricks, the report said.
