Taiwan Seeks Detention of Developers of Toppled Building

Prosecutors have requested the detention of the developers of a high-rise apartment building in southern Taiwan that collapsed over the weekend following a strong earthquake, killing dozens of people

Emergency rescuers continue to search for the missing in a collapsed building from an earthquake in Tainan, Taiwan, on Feb. 7, 2016. AP Photo/Wally Santana

TAINAN, Taiwan—Prosecutors have requested the detention of the developers of a high-rise apartment building in southern Taiwan that collapsed over the weekend following a strong earthquake, killing dozens of people, official media said Tuesday.

The Tainan District Prosecutors Office said Lin Ming-hui and two other former executives, Chang Kui-an and Cheng Chin-kui, were suspected of professional negligence resulting in death, Taiwan’s official Central News Agency reported.

The office requested their detention to prevent collusion or other acts that could disrupt the investigation, CNA said. The three were summoned by prosecutors on Monday and a hearing on the matter was being held late Tuesday.

The death toll in the quake stood at 41 on Tuesday afternoon.