Following the recent collapse of two houses at 3-5 Ham Nghi St. in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, the municipal Department of Construction has suspended construction of the 40-storey Saigon M&C building, which is located next to the ruined homes.

The wreckage of two houses that collapsed January 31 on Ham Nghi St., District 1, HCM City (Photo: Dat Viet)

The Saigon M&C building is located at 34 Ton Duc Thang, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1. The project’s investor is local company Saigon M&C Real Estate JSC, and the contractor is French enterprise Bouygues Batiment International. 

Construction of the building was suspended to facilitate an investigation into the cause of the collapses, which occurred on January 31.

Cracks and damage were also caused to nine other houses nearby when the two homes fell, though no one was killed.

For safety reasons, 10 households in the vicinity have been evacuated, according to the Department of Construction.

City agencies are also inspecting other houses in the neighborhood for signs of damage.

The department blamed the collapses on gaps in the building’s diaphragm walls through which underground water flowed into the basement causing soil subsidence, which damaged the foundations of the surrounding houses.

On the morning of February 1, underground water was continuing to flow into the basement, though at a lower intensity. The contractors later pumped the water out and said they had taken measures to stop further subsidence.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.