Not an Earthquake, but a 75-Story Building in China Suddenly 'Shakes'... Emergency Evacuation Chaos

Seonjeon SEC Plaza view. Photo by Nambang Dosibo

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] In Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, a 75-story skyscraper suddenly shook, causing a commotion as tenants and customers evacuated.

On the 18th, China CCTV reported that the SEG Plaza building in Futian District, Shenzhen, suddenly shook, prompting people inside the building to evacuate outside. SEG Plaza, completed in 1999, is a 355.8-meter-tall, 75-story skyscraper and a prominent landmark of the Huaqiangbei electronics market. The building houses various offices and electronics stores.

At around 12:30 PM that day, the management office of SEG Plaza received reports from tenants that the building was shaking. By around 2 PM, all occupants had safely evacuated outside. Merchants inside the building recalled clearly feeling the building shake. Currently, SEG Plaza is closed, and authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the shaking.

Futian District stated that no earthquakes occurred in Shenzhen or nearby areas. Furthermore, experts’ on-site inspections found no signs of exterior walls falling off or floor cracks around the building. However, some experts argue that it is abnormal for the building to suddenly shake without special factors such as earthquakes or typhoons.

Domestic netizens who heard the news responded with comments such as "Isn't poor construction the cause?", "It's a relief it didn't collapse," "Since it's an electronics store, it reminds me of the incident when Gangbyeon Technomart shook," and "I worry about the safety of many high-rise buildings in our country."