How Taiwan’s tallest building survived the earthquake: Taipei 101 has a 660-tonne pendulum that transfers energy into giant shock absorbers – helping the 1,670ft high skyscraper to sway rather than topple [Video]

08:35 EDT 03 Apr 2024 , updated 10:26 EDT 03 Apr 2024

Taiwan has been hit by its strongest earthquake in 25 years, killing at least nine people, toppling buildings and even triggering tsunami warnings. 

But amid the chaos, eerie footage shows the island’s tallest building – the $1.8 billion Taipei 101 skyscraper – gently swaying like a stick in the breeze. 

Measuring 1,671 feet in height, the building is fitted with an ingenious solution that reduces overall building sway by 40 per cent during quakes and winds. 

A 660 metric ton golden sphere called the ‘tuned mass damper’ hangs inside the building from the 92nd floor. 

As the building moves in one direction, the steel sphere sways in the other direction and maintains the building’s overall balance.