Lightning Strike Allegedly Burns Down S’pore Bungalow, Foreign Workers Broke into House to Warn Occupants

Freak accidents happen, but the owner of a bungalow in Clementi probably didn’t expect this to happen to him.

A loud clap of thunder

On 10 November 2016, the roof of a two-storey bungalow burned after it was allegedly struck by lightning. 

The SCDF was alerted to the incident at about 5.30pm and dispatched two fire engines, two supporting appliances and a Red Rhino to the scene.

By the time they arrived, the entire second storey of the house was in flames. It took three water jets and twenty minutes for the SCDF to bring the fire under control.

No injuries were reported in the incident.

A loud bang and smoke

A domestic helper in a neighbouring house, Ms Evelyn Altuna said that she heard a loud bang before the fire. She was told by her employer’s son to check it out when he saw smoke in the air.

The electricity was cut off after the fire started. 

Shocked but managed to carry out the important things

Mr Peter Tan, 80, lived in the house with his wife and nine cats. He managed to salvage a painting and a luggage full of important documents and their passports. 

Mr Jeya Putra P, 53, said that when the fire first started, the occupants of the house, a woman and her domestic helper, were not aware of the danger.

Foreign workers broke into the house to warn them

The neighbours tried calling out to the occupants from outside the house to no avail. In the end, foreign workers working in the nearby area climbed over the gate to ask them to escape.

Lightning strikes common in the area

A resident who has stayed in the area for 20 years said that lightning is not unusual in the area. He could remember two incidents back in 2015 and 1992 where it caused a surge of electricity in their household appliances, causing his cordless phone to catch fire.

SCDF is currently investigating the cause of the fire.

Feature Image: straitstimes.com

This article was first published on goodyfeed.com