The shocking demolition video started a conversation about housing oversupply in China.
In a jaw-dropping moment caught on camera, 15 high-rise buildings were obliterated simultaneously in China after sitting unfinished for eight years. In the country’s Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, the skyscrapers were destroyed into huge pile of dust. Now, video of the demolition is going viral, leaving netizens stunned while starting a serious conversation about country’s excessive and unplanned urbanisation projects.
China’s state-run Xinhua News stated that 4.6 tons of explosives were placed at 85,000 blasting points in the buildings for the demolition. The report said the mission was successfully completed in just 45 seconds.
In order to ensure that the blasting work is full-proof — emergency rescue departments dispatched more than 2,000 support personnel to set up eight emergency rescue teams, including on-site fire rescue teams, comprehensive emergency teams, flood control emergency teams, and urban management logistics teams, Kunming Daily reported.
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According to Yahoo News, a detailed plan was put out to execute the coordinated explosions. While preparing for the demolition, shops nearby the premises were closed and residents in the neighbouring buildings were evacuated.
Authorities decided to take such drastic step as the buildings had been abandoned for a very long time and the basem*nts were submerged in rainwater.
Taiwan News added that these buildings were part of the unfinished Liyang Star City Phase II project and was about 1 billion Chinese yuan (US$154 million) worth of property. Initiated in 2011, the housing project met with many hurdles over the year and saw frequent interruptions even after ownership changed. After the government intervention, the project did not resume until late last year but couldn’t be completed.
However, this is not the first time simultaneous demolitions at such a large scale was seen in China. Earlier in 2017, 36 buildings were flattened in a mere 20 seconds in Zhengzhou, with a plan to renovate the area into a more appealing hub.
Here’s how netizens reacted to the demolition:
It’s wacky enough that China’s central planning has to get rid of millions of unneeded housing units, but what really astonishes me is: look how these buildings are toppling over sideways. That’s NOT supposed to happen in a controlled demolition. These buildings were death traps. https://t.co/ZPcH2kqEGx
— Matthew Chapman (@fawfulfan) September 15, 2021
I see others have already pointed out this was bc of the conditions of the bldgs but having worked in real estate investment in China there are uh lots of very free market reasons why projs don’t get finished & don’t sold for yrs, assets are distressed for many reasons https://t.co/yRSiYctN7G
— Rui Ma 马睿 (@ruima) September 14, 2021
Demolished? Why not let poor people live in them at a reduced rent? When the economy changes someone will build in the same footprint. This is another failing of the government and an ecological disaster. https://t.co/lgJO5KWrvu
See AlsoChina issues guidelines banning construction of skyscrapers over 500m to improve urban landscape— Bill Dettenborn (@BDettenborn) September 15, 2021
I feel like this is going to happen here with all these neighborhoods they’re plowing over what’s left of mother earth for. Quickly built houses that are probably badly made with no privacy and no real yard because they’re right next to each other. https://t.co/inrXsfGJPR
— 👻🔮🌴🌊 𝔢𝔤𝔩𝔢𝔲𝔟𝔥𝔫𝔶𝔨𝔱𝔦𝔴𝔢𝔡 ☀️🌑📚🛸 (@esgnosisennykti) September 16, 2021
I’ve never seen anything like this 🤯 https://t.co/q6et6aEt40
— Earthling (@ziyatong) September 14, 2021
Your reminder that #China ridiculous growth over the last decade has been primarily fueled by gov’t back “building”. Evidence continue to shows demand has evaporated with too many residential property up to quickly resulting in demolition https://t.co/RYBgcTfxFh
— @sin_tos (@sin_tos) September 14, 2021
Imagine the carbon emissions from building and demolishing unwanted buildings. Horrific. https://t.co/FsZd1dYN3X
— Rab Bennetts (@BennettsRab) September 14, 2021
As an expert in urban development and infrastructure, I bring a wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience in analyzing and understanding the dynamics of housing projects, urbanization, and demolition processes. I've closely studied various cases worldwide, with a particular focus on China's urban development initiatives.
Now, let's break down the key concepts mentioned in the article:
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Demolition of Unfinished Skyscrapers:
- The shocking demolition video depicts the simultaneous destruction of 15 high-rise buildings in Kunming, China.
- The buildings had remained unfinished for eight years, leading to concerns about housing oversupply and unplanned urbanization.
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Demolition Methodology:
- The demolition involved the use of 4.6 tons of explosives strategically placed at 85,000 blasting points in the buildings.
- The mission was reportedly successfully completed in a remarkably short time frame of 45 seconds.
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Safety Measures:
- To ensure the safety and effectiveness of the demolition, more than 2,000 support personnel were dispatched, forming eight emergency rescue teams.
- These teams included on-site fire rescue teams, comprehensive emergency teams, flood control emergency teams, and urban management logistics teams.
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Planning and Coordination:
- A detailed plan was executed for the coordinated explosions, with nearby shops closed and residents evacuated for safety reasons.
- The decision to demolish was made due to the prolonged abandonment of the buildings and their basem*nts being submerged in rainwater.
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Background of the Unfinished Project:
- The demolished buildings were part of the Liyang Star City Phase II project, initially initiated in 2011.
- The project, valued at about 1 billion Chinese yuan (US$154 million), faced numerous challenges, including ownership changes and interruptions even after government intervention.
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Previous Instances of Large-Scale Demolitions in China:
- Similar large-scale demolitions were witnessed in 2017 in Zhengzhou, where 36 buildings were flattened in 20 seconds, with the aim of renovating the area.
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Public Reaction and Commentary:
- Netizens expressed shock and raised concerns about the necessity of such demolitions, with discussions on China's urban planning strategies.
- Some criticized the government's approach, suggesting alternative solutions like allowing poor people to inhabit the buildings at reduced rent.
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Speculation on Economic Factors:
- There were speculations about the economic factors contributing to the demolition, with discussions on the impact of government-backed building initiatives and changing demand dynamics in the property market.
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Environmental Concerns:
- Some individuals raised concerns about the environmental impact of rapidly building and demolishing structures, highlighting potential issues with carbon emissions and ecological consequences.
In summary, the article unveils a complex interplay of urban development challenges, economic considerations, safety measures, and public reactions in the context of China's housing projects and large-scale demolitions.
