Tower crane construction causes damage to Shanghai Metro Line 11

External construction caused damage to equipment and trains on Metro Line 11 in Shanghai, forcing trains to stop between stations on Sunday morning. Metro authorities promptly organized emergency repairs and evacuated passengers. No injuries were reported at the scene, Shanghai Metro said in statements published on its official Sina Weibo account.

Shanghai Metro has issued an official apology to passengers affected by the disruption, saying repair work on the line is ongoing. It is expected to resume operation at about 21 pm on Sunday.

After the incident took place, Shanghai Metro released multiple updates, saying that external tower crane construction had interfered with the Line 11, damaging equipment and trains. No injuries were reported at the scene and passengers were being evacuated.

A red tower crane from a nearby construction site suddenly collapsed and struck the front of a moving metro train, according to a video clip published on the official Sina Weibo account of the Xinhua News Agency.

Additionally, a video clip circulating on Sina Weibo shows a shattered window in one of the affected trains, with glass shards scattered across the floor inside the carriage. 

As of midday, the damaged section of Line 11 remains under urgent repair and cannot resume normal operations in the short term. Temporary adjustments have been made to the train routes, and passengers are advised to use alternative transportation, according to Shanghai Metro.

According to Shanghai transportation authorities, five emergency bus routes have been launched to mitigate the impact. To ensure the quick evacuation of passengers at Line 11 stations, the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission swiftly deployed additional bus services, operating in a point-to-point manner without intermediate stops. Emergency transportation is expected to continue until 8:00 pm on Sunday.

Following the incident, the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) dispatched a working group to the site to oversee response efforts. Minister Wang Xiangxi immediately issued directives, calling for a scientific approach to the emergency response and strict measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, according to the ministry.

Deputy Minister of MEM Song Yuanming held a video conference with the Shanghai Emergency Management Bureau, Fire and Rescue, and on-site personnel to coordinate rescue operations. He also instructed Shanghai authorities to conduct safety inspections across sites at a similar risk.

According to the MEM, the Shanghai Emergency Management Bureau has elevated the investigation to this incident, aiming to analyze the causes, trace accountability, and publicly name and shame the general contractor and subcontractor involved in the construction.