Metal fatigue caused wire rope snapping on stage in HKC concert accident, says task force

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Metal fatigue caused wire rope snapping on stage in HKC concert accident, says task force

A performer injured by a huge video panel fell on the stage during a concert by popular Hong Kong boyband Mirror on July 28, 2022, was attended by paramedics. HONG KONG - A task force led by the government looking into a recent concert accident has found that metal fatigue has caused the snapping of wire rope.

The task force, led by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, was set up after a huge video panel fell on the stage during a concert by popular Hong Kong boy band Mirror on July 29, injuring two dancers.

In a statement issued on Friday, the task force said it had arranged a cherry picker for experts to inspect the installations suspended at the top of the stage at the Hong Kong Coliseum.

The task force had arranged the inspection and examination of all the hoisted installations that had been lowered as the stage was dismantled, it said.

The experts of the task force said in a meeting on Friday that the snapping of wire rope was caused by metal fatigue, citing laboratory examination results.

It added that further investigations are needed to find out the causes of metal fatigue.

It noted that the hanging system of panels and its workmanship could be responsible for the falling of the LED panels that led to the serious incident at the HKC.

The task force will conduct further investigations in this direction.

ALSO READ: HKSAR govt to check if a concert accident due to negligence takes place.

The LCSD said it would hand over the arena as scheduled to the next hirer for holding concerts.

The hirer has agreed to comply and make necessary arrangements to meet the three short-term measures announced earlier to ensure the safety of performers, staff and audiences.

The measures include revisiting and enhancing the safety of their stage design, removing the use of suspended mechanical devices involving swinging, rotation or carrying persons, and conducting daily inspection of the mechanical devices.