A deadly explosion in Tuscany leaves one Singaporean dead, with search efforts revealing further casualties.

A devastating explosion in Italy’s Tuscany region just before Christmas has claimed the lives of two Singaporeans. The blast, which occurred on December 21, killed Mr Seetoh Kwok Meng, 68, the elder brother of renowned food guide founder K.F. Seetoh. His body was discovered the following day.

In the aftermath, rescue teams continued their search for his sister-in-law, Ms Chang Kai-en, 52, who was believed to have been with him at the time of the explosion. On December 25, after days of searching, the remains of a woman, likely to be Ms Chang, were found near the villa in Molazzana, close to the site of the blast. Italian rescue teams, aided by sniffer dogs, made the discovery. While the identity of the woman has not been confirmed, tests are being conducted to verify her identity.

K.F. Seetoh, who was awaiting updates on the search in Italy, expressed his sorrow on social media. He shared a heartfelt message, saying his brother and sister-in-law had spent their final moments together, adding that he would care for their parents. The explosion, believed to have been caused by a gas leak, occurred around 11.45pm on December 21, just after the couple returned to their villa following dinner. The blast caused the house to catch fire and collapse.

A police canine rescue unit, including a dog named Bayla, was instrumental in finding Ms Chang’s remains. Search efforts had lasted nearly four days as authorities combed the area, which is about 70 kilometres from Florence. The tragedy has deeply affected the Singaporean community, with Mr K.F. Seetoh paying tribute to his late brother on December 24.

The elder Mr Seetoh had lived in Taiwan for some time and had been active in the local Singaporean community there, including serving as the chairperson of the Singapore Association in Taiwan.