US crane tragedy: human or mechanical error to blame?

Local experts have attacked industry training standards following the death of at least five people over the weekend when a crane plunged from the New York skyline on to a town house.

The 19-storey crane was being extended by workers when it fell on Saturday afternoon, killing five people and injuring another 24.

Investigations are now focusing on whether human or mechanical error was to blame.

American crane expert and general manager of the Crane Inspection and Certification Bureau John Cole said inadequate training was responsible for most crane accidents.

He said: "A lot of people here look at training not as an investment but as a cost. Usually accidents happen when manufacturer's instructions are not followed and a lot depends on whether the people involved have proper training."

New York City officials said the crane had passed a routine inspection on Friday.

At the time of the accident, workers were adding sections to the crane to lift it higher. A steel collar used to secure the crane to the apartment building under construction is believed to have sheared off, causing the entire structure to topple.

Main contractor Reliance Construction Group has launched its own investigation.

Meanwhile, rescue workers continued to remove pieces of the crane and debris from the flattened building on Monday as the search continued for two missing people.