Shoppers strolling through Great World mall on September 24th witnessed an unexpected and frightening incident as a temporary wall, part of the construction hoarding for the upcoming Japanese restaurant, Tori Sanwa, in Basement 1 (B1) of the mall, abruptly detached and fell, hitting a shopper who was passing by at the time.
The Sudden Collapse
At approximately 4:45 pm, patrons were going about their usual business on the mall’s B1 level. As they passed by the yet-unopened temporary hoarding of Tori Sanwa, an unforeseen disaster unfolded.
The hoarding, seemingly secure just moments before, suddenly gave way, crashing down with a thunderous noise.
An Instagram video posted by @sgfollowsall captured the terrifying moment. The video revealed a section of the makeshift wall missing, broken into smaller pieces strewn across the ground.
Among the wreckage were metal parts, their origin uncertain as to whether they fell along with the hoarding. The collapse left a trail of white paint flakes scattered across the floor.
Bystanders, bewildered by the sudden turn of events, instinctively reached for their smartphones to document the destruction that had just unfolded before their eyes.
A Miraculous Escape
Among the chaos, a TikTok user, @theeagertraveller, posted a video documenting the aftermath. In her video’s caption, she revealed that she was nearby with her toddler when the collapse happened.
The makeshift wall then fell on a man who was passing by at the time. However, in a stroke of luck, the man emerged relatively unscathed, brushing off debris from himself.
The TikTok user also expressed her relief, acknowledging that had she been slightly ahead in her path, she and her toddler could have been caught in the falling wall, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Swift Response by Great World
The area was subsequently cordoned off by staff members from Great World and a security guard was deployed to steers shoppers away.
Police officers were also seen at the scene at about 5.20pm.
Investigation Underway
Great World shopping mall announced that they are currently conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the hoarding panel’s detachment.
The mall management emphasized their commitment to ensuring the safety of all visitors and expressed their dedication to uncovering the root cause of this unsettling incident.
Furthermore, they affirmed their cooperation with Tori Sanwa, the restaurant whose hoarding had collapsed, and their contractor in the ongoing investigation.