A fire at Block 409 Bedok North Avenue 2 claimed one life early Friday morning (May 13), according to The Straits Times. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) rescued several individuals from the affected flat.
By 8:35 a.m., at least 10 policemen were seen reassuring evacuated residents, while the block remained cordoned off and an SCDF ambulance was on-site. Eric Seah, 50, who lives alone on the sixth floor, recounted being woken at 6:45 a.m. by a neighbor warning of the fire. He described the thick, pungent smoke and a large fire that led many residents to rush down the stairs to safety.
Willie Toh Hock Beng, 45, who resides on the fourth floor with his wheelchair-bound mother, shared how a neighbor carried his mother to safety as they evacuated. Toh expressed gratitude for the assistance during the chaotic evacuation.
Tan Kiat How, Member of Parliament for the area, confirmed via Facebook that a mother and her young child were taken to the hospital. He thanked residents for their cooperation and praised the SCDF for their rapid response. Rooms at Heartbeat@Bedok were opened to temporarily accommodate affected families. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.