On the morning of February 11th, a collapse occurred at a subway construction site in Shanghai, which was being constructed by China Railway Tunnel Bureau, a subsidiary of a state-owned enterprise. The subway authorities stated that there were no casualties and attributed the incident to “localized seepage,” sparking mockery among netizens.
Videos circulating online showed a large-scale collapse at the construction site of the Shanghai subway, creating a terrifying scene.
On February 11th, Shanghai state-owned enterprise “Shanghai Shentie” issued a statement on its official WeChat account titled “Explanation of the Local Seepage and Temporary Road Closure in the Construction Area of Qixin Road Station.” It stated that around 10:30 on February 11, the construction of the receiving end of the right line section between Qixin Road Station and Shenjian Road Station, undertaken by China Railway Tunnel Bureau (Jiamin Line 18 section project), experienced a localized seepage incident. The on-site command immediately initiated emergency response measures and is currently dealing with the seepage point, with no casualties reported.
On the evening of February 11th, the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau Traffic Division stated in a notice that the incident was due to a “localized seepage phenomenon.” It mentioned the closure of sections of Qixin Road and Lian Road, prohibiting the passage of motor vehicles, non-motorized vehicles, and pedestrians.
Videos showed that on the evening of the 11th, all work at the construction site was halted, roads near the collapse were completely closed off, and a large number of workers gathered to prepare for repairs.
On February 12th, a Minhang District government official in Shanghai told the mainland media “Da Feng News” that there were no casualties. They suggested contacting the district’s Transportation Committee for specific information on the collapse. Staff from the relevant department of the Transportation Committee confirmed that it was a road collapse issue and stated that any casualties and the reasons behind the collapse would be officially announced through official channels.
As of the time this article was published, there has been no official report from Shanghai authorities.
Some netizens pointed out that two hours before the collapse, some residents had noticed the road sinking, suggesting that the affected area should have been closed off earlier. They believed that while the situation was concerning, it was mainly an issue of construction quality.
On social media platforms in mainland China, netizens questioned whether there were truly no casualties and whether the incident was solely due to seepage or an actual collapse.
In one online platform, the Shanghai subway authorities reported the incident as “localized seepage,” sparking discussions among netizens:
Under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party, new terms seem to be invented daily to obscure the truth. This time it’s “localized seepage,” when in fact, a major road collapse occurred at the construction site of the Shanghai Jiamin Line.
“It seems even in Shanghai, the ceiling of Chinese cities is breaking down.”
“On an alluvial plain with annual subsidence, it’s not suitable for deep excavations. The problem may lie in the faulty survey and design process. If things continue like this, before the sea level rises, the land might just sink on its own.”
“In comparison to the whole of China, this collapse is indeed just a localized issue.”
“No wonder they’re known for their frenzy of infrastructure construction.”
“It turns out that the project was discovered to be substandard after its completion. Under the rule of Xi Jinping, completing construction itself seems to be a challenge.”
“In reality, this is an accident caused by the inadequate performance of regulatory authorities, but the system often prioritizes its own image, so it tends to vehemently justify and conceal.”