2001 Thesis Paper on Shenzhen’s Swaying Skyscraper: Construction Began Before Design Was Completed

The 300-metre SEG Plaza in Shenzhen in China's southern Guangdong province on May 19, 2021, a day after it triggered widespread panic when it began shaking and was evacuated. STR/AFP via Getty Images

The SEG Plaza building in Shenzhen, China, experienced mysterious shaking for three consecutive days from May 18–20. The U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou issued a warning on Monday, urging U.S. citizens to stay away from the building and its surrounding area.

The 1,167-foot-high skyscraper, a landmark in Shenzhen, shook from around 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. on May 18, forcing nearly 15,000 people inside the building to evacuate. Video footage from the scene showed that when the building was shaking, objects on top that appeared to be lightning rods were shaking from side to side. The water in fish tanks and floor fans were also shaking noticeably. The building has been closed down.