2 moviegoers injured after ventilation duct collapses at Shaw cinema in Nex mall

SINGAPORE — A ventilation duct crashed from the ceiling of a movie theatre in Nex shopping centre, injuring two patrons on Sunday (Aug 30) evening.

A spokesperson for Shaw Theatres said the two patrons were quickly attended to by its staff members and then taken to the hospital by paramedics.

The ventilation duct had dislodged from the ceiling at around 4.45pm on Sunday.

The spokesperson added that the cinema will be closed until further notice.

“Our priority is to provide support to our injured patrons,” said the spokesperson. “We are also working with our landlord — Gold Ridge Pte Ltd — and the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances thoroughly.”

Photos of the incident circulating on WhatsApp show a ventilation duct that has fallen into the seats of the movie theatre.

In one picture, paramedics from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) are seen wheeling a patron on a stretcher.

SCDF said it received a call for assistance at Nex shopping centre at around 4.45pm on Sunday.

A section of ducting in a fourth floor cinema hall had fallen from the ceiling.

SCDF conveyed two people to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, it said. There were no other reported injuries.

A Nex spokesperson said it is aware of the incident and is working closely with Shaw Theatres to support the ongoing investigations as well as the parties involved.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said on Sunday night that it sent one of its engineers to investigate the incident at 6.30pm.  

“For safety reasons, BCA has instructed that the cinema be closed pending further investigation,” said a spokesperson in an emailed statement.

The authority also told the building’s owner to appoint a professional engineer to carry out a detailed investigation of the incident, inspect and assess the condition of the other air-conditioning and ventilation ducts in the cinema, and recommend rectification measures to be carried out.