NEGLIGENCE

Taiwan Quake Collapse Developer Arrested

39 dead, 100 missing.

After a high-rise collapsed during Saturday’s earthquake in Taiwan, the building’s developer has been arrested. At least 39 people were killed in the aftermath of the tremor, and more than 170 others were trapped for days in the 17-story apartment complex. The Wei-guan Golden Dragon Building’s developer was arrested Monda evening under suspicion of negligent homicide. Witnesses say commercial cans of cooking oil were allegedly packed inside wall cavities as building material. They were exposed by the damage, among other building-code violations. Due to Taiwan’s strong building-code standards, nearly all other buildings on the island nation remained standing after the 6.4-magnitude quake. More than 100 people are still listed as missing and are suspected to be buried deep under the rubble. The last known survivor was brought out Monday evening.