20230816 2 people taken to hospital after fire breaks out in Ghim Moh Link flat
Singapore Aug 16 2023 “Apartment houses” “Building”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 1 to 9
2 people taken to hospital after fire breaks out in Ghim Moh Link flat
Updated: 2023-08-16
Flames engulfing the high-rise flat as a thick column of smoke streams skywards from its broken windows. PHOTOS: LIANHE ZAOBAO, SCREENGRAB FROM CHRISTOPHER DE SOUZA/FACEBOOK
SINGAPORE – Two people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out on Wednesday morning in a Housing Board flat in Ghim Moh.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to the fire at about 7.35am. When firefighters arrived at the 36th-floor unit at Block 28 Ghim Moh Link, the entire flat was engulfed in “raging” flames, SCDF said in a Facebook post.
Two people were taken to the National University Hospital. One was suffering from smoke inhalation while the other had minor cuts.
Police evacuated about 60 other residents from the affected block as a precautionary measure.
According to Chinese language paper Shin Min Daily News, a family of five – comprising parents and three children – lives in the affected unit. Only the 20-year-old son was at home when the fire broke out.
He tried to put out the flames before the firefighters arrived, but eventually aborted the attempt and made his escape, Shin Min reported.
SCDF said firefighters from Clementi Fire Station and Alexandra Fire Station extinguished the blaze with two water jets.
Videos and pictures posted by Facebook user GF Pat show the flat enveloped in flames as a thick column of smoke streams skywards from its broken windows. Shards of broken glass – presumably debris from the shattered windows – litter the street below the flat.
A charred windowpane, dislodged by the fire, is also seen at the foot of the affected block.
Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Christopher de Souza visited the site of the fire.
In a Facebook post, he said: “Just met the family and neighbours. Thank goodness all are OK except for one family member who is recovering from smoke inhalation.”
He added: “I will work closely with HDB to see how we can assist the families with alternative accommodation as the repair works commence.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Web Source: The Straits Times
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/fire-breaks-out-at-ghim-moh-link-flat