A 79-year-old woman died in a fire that broke out in a Choa Chu Kang Housing Board flat in the wee hours of Sept 24.
In a Facebook post, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said firefighters from Bukit Batok Fire Station and Woodlands Fire Station were alerted to a fire at Block 692A Choa Chu Kang Crescent at about 5.30am.
"The fire involved the living room and a bedroom of a unit on the ninth floor. Firefighters had to conduct forcible entry to gain access into the unit," said SCDF.
"The fire was extinguished with a water jet and two compressed air foam backpacks. As a result of the fire, the rest of the unit also sustained heat and smoke damage." According to SCDF, the victim was found inside one of the bedrooms and was carried out of the flat by firefighters.
She was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic, said SCDF, adding that there was no one else inside the affected unit.
About 150 residents were evacuated from the block by police and SCDF as a precautionary measure.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Police said that based on preliminary findings, they did not suspect foul play.
This is the eighth reported fire fatality in 2024 the figure has almost tripled from the three fatalities in 2023.
This story is from the September 25, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 25, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Neta Aya Shows How Difficult It Is To Get A Car Right
The Chinese electric vehicle gets some things right, but needs work on other areas for it to be taken seriously
Goh Beng Kwan gets festive with hongbao-inspired art
The pioneer artist has teamed up with furniture brand Commune to stage his latest showcase
Second monsoon surge forecast to be shorter, less intense
More flash flooding could occur in coastal areas with higher tides expected this time
Polys and ITE to help SMEs with AI-powered solutions to problems
To see if a firm's employees would fall victim to scam calls, cyber-security officers can upload the phone numbers of their co-workers onto an app and track how they respond.
BYD makes great leap forward with Sealion 7
The electric vehicle from the Chinese carmaker feels spacious and luxurious, with an attractive price tag to boot
Designing smooth rides for Singaporeans
Drawn to problem-solving, this LTA scholar puts his technical skills to work for millions of commuters
SPAS TO FIGHT FESTIVE FATIGUE
In just a few short weeks, families in Singapore who decked the halls with Christmas finery had to swop faux fir trees for auspicious Chinese New Year kumquat potted s trees.
China's Grand Canal Plans
Construction of the Pinglu Canal, the first major waterway to be built in China since 1949, is under way in Guangxi region. Officials hope that the canal will boost exports from south-western China and be a blueprint for other canal projects. But are such projects likely to inject new life into the economy or construction for construction's sake?
Prosecutions driven by justice, not politics: Outgoing US A-G
US Attorney-General Merrick Garland defended the Justice Department on Jan. 16 against what he called unfounded attacks and said prosecutions under his leadership were driven by \"justice, not politics.\"
How does it feel to play Alcaraz? A rival explains
\"I feel like I got no air to breathe.\"