Recently, in the migratory bird resort community in Weihai, Shandong, a building’s balconies from the 2nd floor to the 6th floor all collapsed, with homeowners questioning serious issues with the building quality. Netizens criticized, “Building like this is simply risking lives.”
On the evening of April 7th, a homeowner in the migratory bird resort community posted a video claiming that balconies from the 6th floor to the 2nd floor of Building 63 in Block C all fell down, suspecting severe quality problems with the buildings in the community.
The video showed balconies on multiple floors of the building collapsing, and at the scene, a homeowner picked up a concrete slab that could be easily broken by hand.
Another homeowner said, “I was downstairs at the time, and when I turned around, oh my god, the whole balcony had collapsed. It was so scary, the quality…”
Ms. Liang, a resident of the community, told “Our Video” of The Beijing News that she thought it was an earthquake. When she saw smoke, she also saw the balcony on the upper floor collapse. She moved in 2021, but the balconies from the 2nd to the 6th floor that fell had no residents.
According to the report by Huashang Bao Dafeng News, after the incident, the relevant department brought in a crane to remove the fallen balconies. Homeowners demanded on-site investigation and evidence collection, preventing the removal. This led to a dispute with the on-site workers. Some homeowners said, “Who will take responsibility for the safety of the people?”
On April 8th, the Weihai Nanhai New District Construction Bureau stated that indeed a balcony detachment accident occurred in the community. The building is currently unoccupied, and there were no casualties at the scene. The cause of the accident is under investigation.
Public records show that the community was completed in 2013 and handed over in May of the same year. Currently, a cordon has been erected around the building.
Netizens commented, “The property was guaranteed for 70 years when purchased, but it became dangerous after just 10 years?” “Were these balconies just glued on?” “The detachment looks neat, not a single piece of reinforcement seen.” “No occupants mean no renovation or heavy items placed, yet it collapsed, and it actually passed the completion acceptance.”
“Substandard construction.” “What kind of quality is this? Can we return this?” “Building like this is simply risking lives.”
However, this incident in the community is not an isolated case.
In July 2024, renovations in a certain community in Liaoyuan, Jilin, caused multiple balconies to collapse, necessitating the urgent removal of the unsafe buildings with an excavator. In May 2021, the balconies of the “big slab houses” in Tuanjie Village, a 30-year-old community in Wuhu, Anhui, collapsed, prompting the quick evacuation of the area.