Tunnels and dams crumble and with them the Asian development model
Tokyo (AsiaNews /
Agencies) - The collapse of the Sasago tunnel in Japan and the partial collapse
of a dam under construction in Cambodia - by a Chinese company - are just the
latest in a long series of incidents that testify to the fragility of development
in Asia. Added
to these are the recent nuclear
disaster in Fukushima (Japan) and the series of incidents involving the high-speed
trains, the Shanghai
subway and the Chinese road system, including the collapse of a recently
built bridge ramp. Record
growth, advanced systems, monumental and expensive building projects are not
enough to hide the facts of an economic and industrial system of devastating
damage to man (in terms of civil rights and safety standards at work) and the
environment, in especially
in large centers (see AsiaNews 14/11/2012 Asian
megacities threatened by natural disasters).
Japanese
authorities reported that there are nine confirmed victims of the collapse of
the tunnel Sasago, about 80 km west of Tokyo, which took place on December 2. People
have died in three different vehicles, crushed by the weight of the panels that
feel from the roof. A
fire was unleashed in the gallery and many of the trapped motorists, only managed
to escape fleeing on foot. The
police have conducted a safety inspection of the collapsed tunnel and the
authorities have ordered the control of all the galleries and tunnels of the
highways of the country, to check for any damage to structures due to age and
wear among the
reasons - hypothetical - for the incident.
Meanwhile
the safety controversy is raging with public opinion still marked by the
Fukushima nuclear disaster. Many
people wonder how it is possible that one of the most advanced tunnels, located
along one of the most important transport arteries, could have collapsed. The
company's safety authority apparently inspected the facility just two months
ago, which resulted in compliance with the standards. The
Land of the Rising Sun is often the scene of devastating earthquakes, but at
the time of tragedy, there were no shocks. However,
the events of the past may have weakened the tunnel and cracks were not
detected by the experts. Others
point the finger instead at the structural weaknesses of the project, but there
is currently no official confirmation.
Meanwhile
in Cambodia a Chinese-owned dam under construction has partially collapsed
injuring four workers. Another
four are missing, feared drowned when the waters have flooded the area in which
they were working. For
the experts, the origin of the disaster at the mega-plant on the river Atay,
which took place on December 1, is excess water in the basin.
According
to some witnesses, close to the area of the incident, three to five Chinese
experts, involved in the construction of the dam began in 2008 are also missing. Construction was planned to end by May 2013. In
recent years, Phnom Penh has forged economic alliances and trade relations with
Beijing, which is funding the construction of several plants in a country still
lacking in terms of electricity supply. A
report by the environmental movement International Rivers Network has shown
that "low-cost " power plants can cause "irreparable
damage" to the environment in Cambodia.
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