abroad
Many of the issues affecting UK tower blocks are not unique. They can be found in tower blocks all around the world. Below are some stories from other countries suffering from similar problems, such as structural cracking and dangerous cladding.
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14th June 2019 - Mascot Towers, Sydney, Australia: a 10 year old apartment block was evacuated after engineers became concerned about significant cracking in the structure and masonry. Families from the 132 flats in the block have been moved into temporary accommodation in nearby hotels as experts assess the problems with the building.
3rd February 2019 - Neo 200 Building, Melbourne, Australia: a fire which began at 6am on the 22nd floor, spread rapidly up the cladding on the outside of the building to the 27th floor. The cladding was found to be ACM (Aluminium Composite Materials) the same used on Grenfell Tower.
25th November 2014 - Lacrosse Building, Melbourne, Australia: a fire spread vertically from the 6th floor to the 21st floor of this 23-storey block. The external facade material was found to be combustible and later investigations found that the apartment block was non-compliant with the Building Code of Australia.
Ukraine, 2022
During the war in Ukraine, an apartment building wrapped in combustible cladding caught fire, causing casualties and shedding light on the dangers posed by inadequate building materials and fire safety measures in high-rise buildings.
The Guardian - Ukraine's Mariupol left in ruins as Russian attacks continue
France, 2019
A significant fire broke out in the Notre-Dame du Val housing complex in France due to electrical faults exacerbated by flammable materials. This incident showcased the dangers of insufficient fire safety regulations in residential tower blocks.
France 24 - Fire in residential building in Lyon
Iran, 2017
The Plasco building in Tehran, an iconic high-rise, suffered from serious structural issues leading to its collapse in January 2017. This incident revealed the dangers of neglect in maintaining high-rise structures.
Al Jazeera - Iran high-rise collapse leaves at least 20 dead
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China, 2018
A massive fire broke out in a 17-storey apartment building in Dalian, causing multiple injuries.
South China Morning Post - Fatal fire in Dalian leads to questions on high-rise safety
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India, 2018
An apartment building in Rajgir collapsed due to substandard construction practices and a lack of regulatory oversight.
Hindustan Times - Building collapse in Bihar's Rajgir
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India, 2020
A fire broke out on the 17th floor of the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, underscoring the need for stringent fire safety measures even in high-end residential buildings.
India Today - Fire breaks out at Taj Mahal Palace hotel
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Puerto Rico, 2020
Following a series of earthquakes, numerous high-rise buildings in Puerto Rico were found to have significant structural damage.
Reuters - Puerto Rico's buildings face inspections after damaging earthquakes
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Canada, 2021
Reports of flammable cladding and poor fire safety measures have led to increased scrutiny of apartment buildings in cities including Toronto and Vancouver.
CBC News - Flammable cladding concerns spur changes in building codes
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Each of these incidents serves as a reminder that the fight for safe and secure housing is an international issue, requiring collective action and vigilance to ensure the safety of residents in high-rise buildings everywhere.
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Cracking Up: Investigating Australia's apartment building crisis.
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This programme by Four Corners, covers the investigation into what led to the discovery that many of Australia's apartment blocks are not fit for purpose, and riddled with defects - from the design stage, through to shoddy construction methods.