Sinkhole Swallows Shanghai Metro Work Site
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A section of a Shanghai subway construction site collapsed Thursday morning, opening a massive sinkhole that swallowed temporary structures and prompted the evacuation of nearby office buildings and residential complexes in the city’s southwest.
The accident occurred at a work site for the Jiamin Metro Line. No casualties were reported.
Problems began Wednesday morning, when Shanghai Shentie Investment Co., the state-owned enterprise overseeing the project, reported water leakage at the construction site for the Qixin Road Station. Despite efforts by the contractor, China Railway Tunnel Group, to plug the leak, the ground gave way early Thursday.
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- A sinkhole at the Jiamin Metro Line construction site in Shanghai caused evacuations but no casualties; it likely resulted from water leakage and pipeline rupture.
- Two sheds, traffic lights, and safety fencing were swallowed, with the Moore Dental Hospital suspending operations nearby.
- The 44-km Jiamin Line project, valued at 37.1 billion yuan ($5.3 billion), has now been delayed from its original 2025 completion date to 2028.
- Shanghai Shentie Investment Co.
- Shanghai Shentie Investment Co. is a state-owned enterprise overseeing the Jiamin Metro Line project. They reported water leakage at the Qixin Road Station construction site, which ultimately led to a massive sinkhole. The company is involved in a major north-south corridor of Shanghai's metro network with a significant investment.
- China Railway Tunnel Group
- China Railway Tunnel Group (中铁隧道集团) was the contractor for a section of the Jiamin Metro Line in Shanghai. They were responsible for the Qixin Road Station construction where a massive sinkhole formed due to a collapse. Despite their efforts to plug a water leak, the ground gave way. They had completed tunneling work on the affected stretch in January 2026.
- Moore Dental Hospital
- Moore Dental Hospital was evacuated due to a massive sinkhole collapse less than 100 meters from its location. The hospital suspended operations on Thursday morning and is awaiting notice on when it can reopen.
- June 2021：
- Construction began on the Jiamin Metro Line in Shanghai.
- December 2024：
- A crawler crane toppled onto tracks on Metro Line 11, damaging a train and causing direct economic losses of 18.31 million yuan.
- By the end of 2025：
- Original scheduled completion date for the Jiamin Metro Line.
- January 2026：
- China Railway Tunnel Group reportedly completed tunneling work on the stretch of the Jiamin Line between Qixin Road and Xinjian Road stations.
- February 11, 2026：
- Shanghai Shentie Investment Co. reported water leakage at the construction site for the Qixin Road Station.
- Early February 12, 2026：
- Ground at the Jiamin Metro Line construction site gave way, causing a massive sinkhole.
- February 12, 2026：
- A section of the Shanghai subway construction site collapsed, prompting evacuation of workers and residents, the suspension of operations at Moore Dental Hospital, and the closure of sections of Qixin Road and Li’an Road.
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