Taipei, July 25, 2025 — A tragic incident unfolded at Shezi Elementary School in Taipei’s Shilin District yesterday when a 43-year-old plumber was found dead atop a campus water tower, hours after failing to return home from a scheduled maintenance job.
The deceased, identified only by his surname Zhou, was contracted to perform plumbing and electrical work related to a structural reinforcement project recently outsourced by the school. According to police reports, Zhou had been assigned to inspect an issue with the school’s water tower and began work alone early in the morning.
At around 4 p.m., Zhou phoned his wife, Ms. Li, telling her the job was nearly finished and he would be heading home. However, when he failed to arrive by 10 p.m. and could not be reached, Ms. Li—concerned for his safety—alerted authorities.
Officers from the Shilin Police Precinct tracked Zhou’s last known location and eventually discovered his body on top of the school’s water tower, near the mechanical and electrical room. Emergency responders confirmed Zhou was already deceased at the scene, with visible signs of severe burns to his face and abdomen. His body was rigid, indicating he had been dead for some time.
Ms. Li, carrying their two-year-old son, rushed to the scene late at night and collapsed in grief upon learning of her husband’s fate.
Preliminary findings suggest Zhou may have suffered an electric shock while working, which caused him to lose consciousness and go unnoticed for several hours. The area of the accident had no surveillance cameras, making it difficult to determine exactly what happened. CCTV footage only showed Zhou briefly returning to the parking lot to retrieve tools during the day.
The school clarified that it had entrusted all construction-related work to an external contractor. A company representative stated Zhou had been sent specifically to inspect irregularities in the water system, but the fatal incident occurred unexpectedly during the inspection.
The police have launched a full investigation and notified the local labor inspection office to handle the case as a suspected occupational accident. Authorities have also reported the incident to the Shilin District Prosecutor’s Office, which has ordered an autopsy to determine the precise cause of death.
The tragic event has raised concerns about safety practices on school campuses during ongoing construction projects, especially when workers are left to operate alone without immediate supervision or safety checks.
