Taiwan prosecutors Wednesday questioned the developer of an apartment complex that collapsed during an earthquake as prosecutors detailed flaws in the construction of the building where nearly 100 people remain trapped.
Prosecutors in the southern city of Tainan launched an investigation into Saturday's disaster after photos showed cans and foam had been used to fill parts of the complex's concrete framework.
The district court, which earlier ordered the developer's arrest, said some reinforcing bars in the concrete of the 16-storey structure were too thin or too short.
The court took developer Lin Ming-hui, and two other people connected with the development, into formal custody late Tuesday on charges of professional negligence resulting in death.
READ: Taiwan quake: Death toll increases to 35, over 100 remain missing
So far 47 people have been confirmed dead, according to the CNA news agency, and 95 are still missing after the collapse of the Wei-kuan complex.
A six-year-old boy was pulled from the rubble late Wednesday, CNA reported, as the window for finding survivors narrowed.
The complex was the only high-rise in Tainan to crumble completely when the 6.4 magnitude quake struck before dawn Saturday and most of the victims died as a result of the building's collapse.
"The suspects are being questioned further today, but as it is underway, details are not likely to be made public," Tainan court spokeswoman Kuo Jen-shiow told AFP.
Prosecutors were not immediately available for comment.
The city government said it would seek a court injunction next Monday to stop the developer disposing of his assets while facing lawsuits.
READ: Survivors tell of quake horror in Taiwan
According to a court statement, prosecutors found that the beams and pillars of the first five floors on the east side of the building had too few reinforcing bars, and the bars were thinner than they were supposed to be.
It said samples from the third floor of the site also showed that the bars were shorter than required.
"Apparently in this case, there were indeed flaws in the construction of the building," the statement said.
The 72-hour "golden window" for finding survivors passed early Tuesday. But near midnight Tuesday Tainan mayor William Lai offered fresh hope, saying rescuers had detected signs of life.
But more than 24 hours later, no one had been pulled out alive.
Some 175 people have been rescued, including an eight-year-old girl and three others pulled from the rubble Monday.
The quake struck two days before Lunar New Year, when many people would have been visiting relatives for the biggest celebration of the Chinese calendar.
Premier Chang San-cheng ordered the Taiwanese flag flown at half-mast Monday to pay tribute to the victims.
Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes.
The island's worst tremor in recent decades was a 7.6 magnitude quake in September 1999 that killed around 2,400 people.
AFP
Thu Feb 11 2016
Rescue personnel help a child rescued at the site where a 17-storey apartment building collapsed during an earthquake in Tainan, southern Taiwan, February 6, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer
35 laluan bas Rapid KL terlibat penyelarasan operasi bermula hari ini
Sebanyak 35 laluan atau 13 peratus daripada keseluruhan 264 laluan bas Rapid KL di Lembah Klang termasuk bas perantara Laluan Transit Aliran Massa (MRT) terlibat dalam penyelarasan operasi.
AWANI Ringkas: Kes Bunuh | Korporat | Net Zero 2050
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
AWANI Ringkas: Beli Kondo Mewah | Komoditi | UNESCO
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Pemecatan salah: Bekas pengurus menang saman terhadap BNM
Mahkamah Tinggi hari ini memutuskan bahawa pemecatan bekas pengurus Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) kerana menyertai aktiviti politik pada 2016 sebagai tidak sah dan menyalahi undang-undang.
AWANI 7:45 [29/03/2024] – Malaysia ada undang-undang | Sindiket seludup membabitkan Kastam | Pegawai polis lindungi kegiatan haram
Ketua Polis Negara beri amaran jangan ambil tindakan sendiri.
Rugi RM2 bilion akibat seludup.
SPRM jangka ada bos lebih senior lindungi kegiatan haram.
RM37.6 juta tampung kos tol percuma sempena Aidilfitri.
Rugi RM2 bilion akibat seludup.
SPRM jangka ada bos lebih senior lindungi kegiatan haram.
RM37.6 juta tampung kos tol percuma sempena Aidilfitri.
Guru wanita cabul pelajar direhatkan - Fadhlina
Guru wanita yang didakwa mencabul seorang pelajar lelaki dalam kes tular baru-baru ini, direhatkan sehingga siasatan kes itu selesai.
Umat Islam perlu pertahan tradisi ilmu, akliah Al-Azhar - PM
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menggesa umat Islam di negara ini untuk terus pertahankan tradisi ilmu serta akliah, yang dihidupkan oleh Universiti Al-Azhar (Al-Azhar), Mesir.
Consider This: Kesuma — First 100 Days as Human Resources Minister
It's been a little over 100 days since the cabinet reshuffle when Steven Sim was moved from being one of two Deputy Finance Ministers to holding a full Human Resources portfolio. How has he fared so far? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Steven Sim about his first 100 days as the Minister of Human Resources.
Haji furada: Syarikat pelancongan diperintah bayar RM634,000 kepada 25 bekas pelanggan
Kesemua 25 individu selaku plaintif berjaya membuktikan tuntutan terhadap syarikat itu yang dinamakan sebagai defendan dalam saman berkenaan.
Kerajaan Pahang pertimbang bonus raya penjawat awam - MB
Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail berkata pihaknya sedang meneliti kedudukan kewangan terlebih dahulu sebelum sebarang keputusan dimuktamad.