Worker dies after being sucked into water pipe: one of at least 3 fatal workplace accidents today

A man working on a pipeline project in Taichung City lost his life after he was sucked through a hole he had just made in a water pipe Monday, November 30.

The 50-year-old man, named Zeng, was working on a Taiwan Water Corporation pipeline replacement project in Tanzi District when the accident occurred at around 11:30 am.

The incident was recorded on video from someone standing above the trench. The video footage showed Zeng atop the steel pipe using a lump hammer to knock out a 60 x 40 centimeter square piece that had been cut by a coworker. However, when the steel plate finally gave way, Zeng lost his balance, falling forward. Zeng momentarily caught himself, but the suction force caused by the vacuum in the pipe sucked him feet-first into the pipe.

Man knocking section of pipe using lump hammer
The moment before Zeng is sucked into a water pipe.
workers pull colleague out of water pipe

Zeng’s coworkers pulled Zeng out of the pipe, but he had lost vital signs by the time paramedics arrived, and was later declared dead at the hospital.

The Ministry of Labor and other relevant agencies are currently investigating the incident. The incident is one of three fatal industrial accidents reported in Taiwan’s news media today. In Yilan, a welder died while working in an enclosed space due to a buildup of argon gas, and in Kaohsiung, a backhoe driver was buried alive after a chimney collapsed on a demolition site.

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6 thoughts on “Worker dies after being sucked into water pipe: one of at least 3 fatal workplace accidents today

  • November 30, 2021 at 7:01 pm
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    Three fatal workplace accidents in Taiwan IN ONE DAY. Can you imagine the bloody hoohaw there would be if there were three deaths merely ascribed to (not even provably due to) a Covid mutant (take your pick of which one) in a similar time frame? According to the “worldometers” website, it’s been at or near ZERO since early August. That’s about 120 days! It’s time to wake up and smell the you-know-what. And, unlike Ann Landers, I don’t mean the coffee.

    Reply
    • December 3, 2021 at 12:34 pm
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      what are you talking about, there are still people dying of COVID all over the world

      Reply
      • December 3, 2021 at 2:02 pm
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        “ThErE ArE StIlL PeOpLe dYiNg oF CoViD AlL OvEr tHe wOrLd” now say it without crying

        Reply
        • May 31, 2023 at 3:39 am
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          Can you say that without Trump’s balls in your mouth? Because it’s difficult to understand your attempt at trolling, otherwise.

          Reply
      • December 3, 2021 at 2:33 pm
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        Not talking about “all over the world.” Only talking about TAIWAN.

        Reply
  • December 3, 2021 at 7:40 am
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    That has to be a downhill stretch of pipe. You can hear the vacuum. Also, don’t stand like that and don’t cut a body sized hole.

    Reply

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