Recently, in Fenghuang New City residential complex in Lingshi, Shanxi Province, Building G, an elevator malfunctioned, trapping a young boy inside. After his cries for help went unanswered, the boy managed to pry open the elevator door with his bare hands and escape, sparking widespread attention online.
According to the report by The Beijing News, the young boy tried shouting, banging, and pressing buttons inside the elevator with no response before resorting to opening the door himself to exit.
On September 27, when reporters from the newspaper visited the scene, they encountered an elderly person also trapped in the same elevator before being rescued.
Maintenance personnel explained that the elevator involved had been in service for fifteen to sixteen years, and the malfunction occurred due to pebbles jamming the elevator door.
The incident of the “boy escaping by prying open elevator door due to malfunction” became a top trending topic on Weibo on September 28.
Many netizens expressed concerns, saying, “It’s too dangerous, the consequences could be unimaginable if it had started moving,” and “If it hadn’t stopped at the correct floor, the outcome could have been much worse.” Others commented on the lack of response, questioning how one could manage in such a situation and emphasizing the need for property management to reflect on the issue.
“Doubts arise about whether elevators in China undergo regular inspections.” “Who does the emergency call button connect to? Is it the property management or maintenance personnel on the other end, or is there no guarantee someone will respond?” “Fortunately, the elevator car was level with the hallway floor, emphasizing the paramount importance of safety in elevator maintenance.”
Elevator malfunctions are frequent in China. According to a report by Jinwangbao on September 25, elevators in China are considered old after exceeding a service life of 15 years. However, as reported by CCTV, as of April 2023, the number of “aged” elevators operating for 15 years or more nationwide had reached 736,800, with this figure increasing annually at a rate of around 10%.