Taiwan Apartment Collapse: Tenants Reflect on Low Rent and Uncertain Futures

The collapse in Taiwan reveals the human impact of structural issues and the difficult choices faced by low-income residents.

Following the collapse of an apartment building on Zhongxing Street in the Qingshui District of Taiwan, residents began returning to their homes from 1 PM onwards to gather their belongings. While most were aware of the building's structural problems, they had resided there for over a decade due to the affordable rent.

A resident of the fourth floor, a 葉 (Ye) family member, explained that he is currently unemployed but could afford the rent. He mentioned that it was just a few thousand dollars per month, and he had "gotten used to living there!" He also stated that his apartment seemed mostly intact, despite the building's exterior collapse, but the future is uncertain. He expressed a sense of familiarity with the place, having lived there for over a decade, but acknowledged that he would not be able to live there anymore.