A fire broke out at Tampines Street 81 on Monday (9 Dec), with residents reporting a loud explosion.
The incident occurred around 6.40am when a unit on the 13th floor of Block 889A caught fire, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) shared in a Facebook post.
Video footage showed fierce flames erupting from the unit’s window, while thick black smoke filled the surrounding HDB corridor.
Source: Lianhe Zaobao on Instagram
A resident from nearby Block 891 recalled being startled by a deafening explosion, 8world News reported.
He heard people shouting “Fire!” and looked out the window to see the unit engulfed in flames.
Another resident from Block 894 confirmed hearing the explosion around 6.30am.
Initially mistaking it for thunder, he later saw people fleeing downstairs, followed by the arrival of an ambulance.
Fragments of broken glass were found on the ground level, believed to have been caused by the explosion shattering the unit’s window.
Source: 8world News on Facebook
One shard of glass pierced through the roof of a sheltered walkway, scattering broken glass and ceramic onto the ground.
Source: 8world News on Facebook
A ladder was seen placed near the area, presumably for further investigation.
Source: 8world News on Facebook
Police cordoned off the affected ground floor areas.
The SCDF arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire in the unit’s bedroom using a water jet.
Source: Lianhe Zaobao on Instagram
Two occupants of the affected unit had already escaped before the SCDF’s arrival.
They suffered from smoke inhalation but declined to be taken to the hospital.
As a precaution, SCDF officers and the police evacuated around 50 residents.
Source: 8world News on Facebook
The Tampines Grove Residents’ Network office on the ground floor opened at 7am to provide temporary shelter for those affected.
The fire and thick smoke caused damage to the 13th-floor corridor and the exterior walls of neighbouring units.
A nearby resident mentioned that the SCDF had to temporarily turn off the power to conduct safety checks.
The SCDF is investigating the cause of the fire.
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Featured image adapted from Lianhe Zaobao on Instagram and 8world News on Facebook.
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