The following excerpt comes from this news article: http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/11944976/
隣のビルとの隙間はそう危険なものではなかった中、彼の姿は一瞬にしてビルの谷間に消え、しかも地面を強打する衝撃音が発生することはなかったのだ。
What is 中 doing here? Looks like it might mean "although" or something?
The following excerpt comes from this news article: http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/11944976/
隣のビルとの隙間はそう危険なものではなかった中、彼の姿は一瞬にしてビルの谷間に消え、しかも地面を強打する衝撃音が発生することはなかったのだ。
What is 中 doing here? Looks like it might mean "although" or something?
This 中{なか} is used in indicating "to remain one state"
Goo dictionary says
物事が進行している最中。また、ある状態が続いているとき。「あらしの中を突き進む」「お忙しい中をありがとうございます」
I translated 隣のビルとの隙間はそう危険なものではなかった中 as "The interspace with next building remains little dangerous" but there may be better one though.
He didn't "dive", did he? . . . Eng. articles must have said "jumped" (and fell).
( The article contains other errors or awkward passages. )
ペンシルベニア州ピッツバーグのオークランドで23日の午前2時ごろ、若い男性があるビルの屋上から若干低い隣のビルめがけてダイブし、大きな騒動となった。
隣のビルとの隙間はそう危険なものではなかった中、彼の姿は一瞬にしてビルの谷間に消え、しかも地面を強打する衝撃音が発生することはなかったのだ。
This is not correct or grammatical Jp prose.
As written, the meaning can't be determined.
But it could be fun to guess the intended meaning.
My guess:
中 means "into" (the gap)
中 means "while" <--- I think this is it. (So i'm agreeing with the deleted answer.)
"While the gap between the buildings was not clearly perilous, ..."
"While he figured the gap to be not-so-dangerous (not too wide), his body vanished into the gap in an instant, and yet ... "
While he thought the gap to be not so dangerous, his body vanished into the gap in an instant, ---------->
(Google translate) ---> 彼はギャップがそれほど危険ではないと考えているが、彼の体は一瞬で隙間に消え、
While he figured / thought...
-> It was not what he thought. The gap was actually not dangerous/wide. Despite that, he fell between the gap.
This is not correct or grammatical Jp prose.
... Btw, the original article is -> post-gazette.com/local/city/2016/08/23/…