Typhoon Wipha Triggers Among Others Scaffolding Collapse in Hong Kong

On July 20, 2025, Typhoon Wipha swept through Hong Kong, causing widespread destruction including multiple scaffold collapses across the city. Among the most serious incidents was the collapse of the exterior scaffold at the Sky Scraper building in North Point. Captured in a widely shared video, the bamboo scaffolding plummeted to the ground, damaging several vehicles parked below and highlighting the structural vulnerabilities exposed during extreme weather events.

Earlier in the day, another major collapse occurred at Continental Mansion Car Park on Tin Hau Temple Road, where a 100-metre-long, 20-metre-high scaffold fell, obstructing four lanes of traffic. Emergency services, including firefighters, responded promptly to clear debris and secure the affected sites. Wind gusts exceeding 167 kph and more than 110 mm of rainfall in three hours contributed to the failures.

Authorities downgraded the storm’s warning level from 10 to 3 later that evening, but the incidents reignited concern about the safety of bamboo scaffolding in densely populated urban areas. Local officials have since called for reviews of construction practices and safety protocols under typhoon conditions.

Following is a video showcasing the storm-damaged scaffolding.