On a tranquil Sunday over Sentosa, an unexpected spectacle graced the skies, leaving both residents and beachgoers intrigued and captivated.
A massive black smoke ring materialized over Tanjong Beach in Sentosa, leaving curious onlookers with plenty of questions as to what the phenomenon in the sky is.
The Bizarre Encounter
Among those who bore witness to this surreal spectacle was Nuruddin Selamat, a marketing associate. His curiosity piqued, he swiftly captured the sight on video and shared it on TikTok.
In a playfully captioned video titled “errmmm, should we start running?”, the black smoke ring was seen suspended over palm trees by the beach. The video swiftly gained traction, amassing over 17,000 views, and it didn’t take long for the buzz to spread.
A Curious Conundrum
Speaking to The Straits Times, Nuruddin Selamat, reminiscing about the peculiar event, revealed that he and his friends were enjoying a leisurely drink and snacks on the beach when the anomaly caught their attention.
He recalled, “Honestly, we were super confused, and we thought it was a swarm of bees.” The initial bewilderment gave way to a mix of fascination and skepticism, prompting him to record the spectacle.
He further explained, “I was actually thinking if I should run, but I decided to take a video first because no one would believe me if I did not have evidence.” He also added that the ring was moving very slowly as well, before it eventually faded away.
@danenrdnslm5 errmmm, should we start running? #trending #sentosa #singapore ♬ original sound – Manic Hispanic
A Familiar Sight
Curiously, this is not the first time Sentosa has played host to such a spectacle. Historical records indicate similar occurrences in both 2022 and 2017.
During those instances, local media reported that these smoke rings were likely a consequence of fireworks testing in preparation for Sentosa’s renowned “Wings of Time” pyrotechnics show.
Across the globe, similar occurrences have fascinated and puzzled observers. In Moscow, a comparable smoke ring was observed in March, capturing the attention of social media platforms.
The phenomenon was shared by Mr. Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the minister of internal affairs of Ukraine, through a captivating video on Twitter.
Residents of Moscow publish videos of a black circle in the city's sky.
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) March 27, 2023
What do you think happened there? pic.twitter.com/Ne9CIEDUhI