Metro Line 11 in Shanghai Disrupted by Tower Crane Incident

On a Sunday morning, an incident involving external construction work led to a major disruption on Shanghai’s Metro Line 11, as a tower crane collapsed, impacting trains and equipment. This unexpected event forced trains to cease operations between stations, prompting metro authorities to swiftly initiate emergency repairs and relocate passengers, although thankfully, no injuries were reported.

Shanghai Metro acknowledged the chaos caused by the incident through an official statement, apologizing to affected riders and informing them that repair efforts are currently in progress. They expect the line to resume normal operations by 9 PM on the same day. According to updates following the incident, the tower crane from a nearby construction site had fallen and struck a moving metro train, resulting in equipment damage and some broken windows, as evidenced by videos circulating on social media.

To address the disruption, Shanghai transportation officials have set up five emergency bus routes for those affected, and additional buses have been deployed to facilitate the quick evacuation of individuals from Line 11 stations. These temporary bus services are designed to operate directly between points without intermediate stops, continuing until approximately 8 PM on Sunday.

In response to the incident, the Ministry of Emergency Management has taken proactive measures by dispatching a working group to oversee the situation and ensure proper emergency procedures are followed. Minister Wang Xiangxi emphasized the need for a careful approach to the emergency response and called for stringent measures to avoid repeat incidents in the future. Deputy Minister Song Yuanming held discussions with local emergency teams to coordinate the ongoing rescue efforts and has instructed comprehensive safety inspections at similar construction sites throughout the region. The investigation into the incident and accountability for those responsible is being escalated by the Shanghai Emergency Management Bureau, which aims to clearly identify and publicize the contractors involved.