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Unfolded stroller likely cause of escalator collapse: Tampines 1 manager

SINGAPORE — When the bottom steps of a moving escalator at Tampines 1 collapsed, an unfolded stroller had been on it, the manager of the mall said.

Four shoppers were on the escalator at Tampines 1 mall when its bottom steps collapsed on Saturday evening (April 13).

Four shoppers were on the escalator at Tampines 1 mall when its bottom steps collapsed on Saturday evening (April 13).

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SINGAPORE — An unfolded stroller was likely the cause of an escalator at Tampines 1 collapsing on Saturday night, the mall's manager has said.

Four shoppers were on the escalator when its bottom steps collapsed on Saturday evening (April 13), Shin Min Daily News reported.

In response to queries from TODAY, manager AsiaMalls said that at about 9.40pm, the safety mechanism of the escalator, which is on the second floor of the mall, had been triggered to a stop.

“From the CCTV footage, an unfolded stroller was seen on the affected escalator when the incident happened,” Tampines 1 general manager Maggie Chua said in a statement.

“Wheels on strollers may jam escalator steps, causing dislodgement and triggering the escalator to a safety stop.”

TODAY understands that the escalator is still closed as of Monday afternoon, and repairs are ongoing.

OTIS, Tampines 1’s escalator vendor, and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) are working with AsiaMalls to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident, Ms Chua added.

BCA has previously warned parents against using strollers on escalators.

The regulator told TODAY on Monday that in 2017 and 2018, an average of four cases a year involving the use of strollers on escalators were reported to BCA. The reported incidents resulted in damage to the escalator and some of the incidents also involved injury, it added.

BCA has also previously said that more than 92 per cent of escalator incidents were caused by unsafe behaviour, with the remaining the result of mechanical problems such as faulty handrails.

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