Shenzhen Elevator Chaos: The 18‑Floor Slip‑down
Picture this: a nine‑year‑old girl, fresh from a day in Shenzhen, steps into an elevator on a sleepless May eve. She’d have expected a smooth ride home, not an eight‑minute free‑fall adventure.
What Went Wrong?
- The lift was on the 19th floor when a boy hopped off, leaving the girl alone.
- Just as the doors began to shut, the elevator’s display lights gave a dramatic blackout.
- Without a clear indication of direction, the very same machine started sliding down—going straight to descent mode.
- In her panic, the girl turned every button into a “panic button”—no instinct for pressing 10‑12‑…
- Remember the public‑safety museum lesson? “If your lift goes rogue, hit every button you can.” She followed it to the letter.
- The noisy motor eventually ceased at the ground floor, sparing her from a less-than‑cool emergency exit.
When she emerged, tears and giggles mixed like peanut butter and jelly—she was both relieved and visibly shaken.
Why It’s Not a One‑Off Fiasco
Last year, the building’s lift quietly descended from the 11th to the 2nd floor—“testing” it said. Residents, meanwhile, felt it was what a being a vent‑i‑long “nonsense” explanation had to offer.
- No signage warning people that a test was underway.
- Passengers were caught in the gear like unwanted extras in a comedy set.
- Shenzhen regulators swooped in and found the system had a “catastrophic error.”
The city’s lift authority is on it, but for now it’s an ongoing investigation with more questions than bullets on an elevator panel.
Takeaway for All
Whether you’re an eight‑year‑old or an adult, always pre‑press your elevator buttons if the ride looks wilder than a roller‑coaster. And hey, if you’re a resident, a good sign that says “NO TESTS IN A LIFT” can do wonders for peace of mind.
