Building Structure Collapsed in Tanjong Pagar Work Site; Search Operations Now Ongoing

Following a structure’s collapse in Tanjong Pagar, a worker has been reported missing.

The incident happened at 2 pm today (15 June), at a building site in Tanjong Pagar.

Structure Collapsed This Afternoon

According to a Facebook post by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the incident site is located at 1 Bernam Street.

They were alerted to the incident at around 2 pm on 15 June, and investigations are currently underway. 

Reportedly, the structure had collapsed in a work site of a building undergoing demolition works. 

It was a part of Fuji Xerox Towers, which is being demolished to make way for a 45-story tall residential project named Newport Residences. 

The condominium is slated to be launched in 2023.

Worker Missing After Collapse

An update was posted on Facebook by the SCDF at 4 pm on the same day, revealing that a worker had been reported missing.

SCDF officers from 1st SCDF Division, Marina Bay Fire Station and rescuers from the elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) have been deployed at the site to conduct search operations.

Pictures attached to their Facebook post showed the officers searching through piles of debris with various tools, in an area measuring 20 metres by 10 metres.

SCDF also sent out two search canines to aid in the search. 

A Mass Decontamination Vehicle was also spotted at the incident site. The vehicle is able to perform a myriad of functions, like decontaminating mass casualties, transporting casualties, conveying required equipment and providing treatment for first responders suffering from heat injuries. 

According to the contractor in charge of the project, Aik Sun Demolition and Engineering, there are no injuries. 

The cause of the collapse has yet to be determined.

As of the time of the article’s writing (6pm), the worker is still missing.

Similar Incidents

On 20 April 2004, a similar construction accident happened at the construction site of Nicoll Highway Circle Line MRT station.

At around 3.30 pm that day, a temporary retaining wall of the tunnel at the site collapsed, creating a ravine that measured 30 metres deep.

The collapse resulted in four deaths and a rescue operation that spanned four days.

SCDF’s DART was also deployed at the scene that day, and the operation involved 162 rescuers.

All except one of the workers were found across the four days, when conditions became too dangerous for the search to continue.

The missing worker, construction foreman Mr Heng Yeow Prow, was never found. He was remembered for his heroism in risking his own life during the collapse to help the other workers escape.