According to a video on the site, there were cracks on the building walls. The building has been evaluated as a D-level, which means the building is no longer safe for residents. Photo: Sina Weibo

 

 A first-floor apartment owner has been placed under criminal compulsory measures due to barbarically knocking off the load-bearing wall in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang Province, putting the whole building in danger and triggering outrages in the neighborhood, local media reported Tuesday.

According to a video on the site, there were cracks on the building walls. The building has been evaluated as a D-level, which means the building is no longer safe for residents to continue to live in. The 6-floor building was built in 1988, home to 36 families. 

All the residents in the building have been required to move out and live in hotels or homes of their relatives. Each home has been compensated with 4,000 yuan ($620.3) for temporarily living outside. The surrounding passageways have also been closed to prevent further injuries.

The local government has issued plans to strengthen and reinforce the building to remove danger. The job will be completed between 30 days and 45 days, and afterwards a third-party will be required to evaluate the safety of the building. A local government employee said that residents will not be allowed to go back until the building is determined as safe.

Global Times