Singapore: On December 9, 2024, fifty residents were evacuated from a residential block in eastern Singapore after a fire broke out in the morning. The Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF) received the alert around 6:40 A.M. regarding the incident at a Housing and Development Board (HDB) block on Tampines Street.
Upon arriving at the scene, responders observed black smoke billowing from a unit on the 13th floor. SCDF shared images showing severely damaged walls and the corridor outside the affected room. As a precautionary measure, residents from surrounding units were evacuated.
Two individuals from the impacted unit managed to escape before the SCDF arrived and were evaluated for smoke inhalation by paramedics but opted not to go to the hospital. The fire, which involved items in a bedroom, was successfully extinguished, and investigations into its cause are currently underway.
HDB flats are public housing managed by Singapore’s public housing authority, accommodating over 80% of the population with their affordable and community-focused designs.