Update: The missing worker has been found pinned under a collapsed reinforced concrete structure, with no pulse and wasn't breathing. He was subsequently pronounced dead.
An incident occurred this afternoon at a construction site situated at 1 Bernam Street in Tanjong Pagar, involving the collapse of a building structure.
According to reports, one worker is currently missing in the incident, with the collapsed structure being part of a building that was undergoing demolition activities a the time.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was notified of the incident on June 15 at approximately 2 pm and at present, SCDF personnel are at the scene to conduct investigations as well as trying to locate the missing worker.
The Straits Times reported that about 11 emergency vehicles and 70 rescuers were deployed to the site of the collapsed structure, including firefighters, rescue workers and emergency medical workers.
The area around Bernam Street off Anson Road has also been cordoned off from the public.
In an update provided at 4 pm, SCDF announced that officers from Marina Bay Fire Station and members of the elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) are actively engaged in search operations to locate the missing worker.
To aid in the search efforts within an area spanning approximately 20 meters by 10 meters, two SCDF search canines have also been deployed.
SCDF’s statement
[Collapsed Structure Incident @ 1 Bernam Street]
On 15 June 2023 at about 2 p.m., SCDF was alerted to an incident involving a collapsed structure at the abovementioned location. The collapsed structure is at a building site undergoing demolishing works.
SCDF is currently at scene investigating.
SCDF’s updated statement
[Update 1: Collapsed Structure Incident @ 1 Bernam Street]
SCDF officers from 1st SCDF Division, Marina Bay Fire Station and rescuers from the elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) are currently at scene conducting search operations to locate a worker who was reported missing.
Two SCDF search canines have also been deployed to assist in the search in an area of about 20 metres by 10 metres.
SCDF’s second update
[Update 2: Collapsed Structure Incident Along Bernam Street]
Following an intensive search operation, a worker who was earlier reported missing, was sighted to be pinned under the collapsed reinforced concrete structure around 1800hrs. The worker had no pulse and not breathing.
The SCDF immediately conducted cutting and breaking operations to free the casualty. The operation also required the Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) personnel to dig their way through the rubble to create space and assess where parts of the body may have been trapped. This was further complicated due to the weight of the concrete slab which was in excess of 50 tonnes (estimated) as well as mangled scaffolding around the body.
The casualty was finally freed after nearly four hours around 2145hrs. He was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic.
Earlier in the search operation, CCTV footages from the surrounding buildings were obtained by the Police to assist in the assessment of the situation. A fibre optic scope, life detection equipment and search canines were also deployed to detect for signs of life. The operation involved the coordinated use of heavy machinery from the construction site as well as rescue equipment to cut and lift the reinforced concrete slab.
11 SCDF emergency vehicles and about 70 personnel, including rescuers from the DART were deployed at the scene for this operation.
Images source: SCDF and Complaint Singapore Unrestricted on Facebook