The Town, Arecales – Arecales officials had ordered a halt in the construction of the developing Asperic Islander Hotel and Resort following the death of a Kue construction worker.

According to officials, they had uncovered “severe safety lapses” in their preliminary inspection of the construction site. Such lapses included inadequate harnessing equipment, substandard scaffolding materials, and a lack of proper reinforcement measures.

The incident happened last Sunday afternoon when a scaffolding structure at the Tavauru Villa worksite collapsed, leading to the fatal fall of the worker. Emergency services were notified of the incident and immediately dispatched rescue workers to the scene, but the worker was pronounced dead.

Gongren Construction and Engineering Co, the Bai construction company responsible for the project, now faces heightened scrutiny as Arecales officials have issued a directive for a thorough investigation into the safety practices employed by the company.

The resort was part of a Bai-backed investment project in Arecales by the International Bai Investments and Development Corporation and is currently operated by Yongren Hotels Group. It has been touted as the first resort in Arecales that features other cultures as part of its theme.

The first stages of the resort opened in 2022, while the other parts of the resort, such as the various villas and swimming pools, remain under construction. The construction project had seen numerous delays due to funding disputes.

The Corporation issued a statement saying they were “deeply saddened by a fatal accident” and are willing to work with the contractor to assist the worker’s family. At the same time, it promised to give its “fullest cooperation” with local authorities in their investigations.