Fire breaks out at Tuas industrial unit, 10 injured

SINGAPORE — Ten people were hurt after a fire broke out at an industrial unit in Tuas on Wednesday (Feb 24).

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post that it was alerted at 11.25am to a fire at 32E Tuas Avenue 11.

Upon arrival, the SCDF found that a unit in an industrial building was smoke-logged. Firefighters then entered the unit to locate the fire.

An industrial mixer was burning and it was extinguished with two water jets.

An eyewitness at the scene, who wanted to be known only as Mr Tan, told TODAY that he was inside his office when he heard two or three very loud “boom” sounds.

The 58-year-old manager felt the office shake and, after opening the window, saw “very high” smoke coming out of the industrial building.

Eight people with burn injuries were taken to Singapore General Hospital.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday night, the Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) said that eight workers were receiving treatment in the intensive care unit and two others sustained minor injuries.

About 65 people from neighbouring units self-evacuated before the SCDF arrived.

As on-site accommodation is no longer safe, the MWC has made available emergency housing support, should the employers be unable to relocate their workers.

“We are also working closely with the Singapore Ministry of Manpower to provide other forms of assistance to workers who live and/or work near the accident site. This includes referring any affected workers for stress or emotional counselling,” it wrote.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

It came a day after a fire broke out at a Housing and Development Board flat along Jalan Bukit Merah, injuring two people.