Worker found dead at site of collapsed Tanjong Pagar building structure after hours-long rescue effort

SINGAPORE: The body of a missing worker has been recovered, almost eight hours after a building structure collapsed in Tanjong Pagar on Thursday (Jun 15) at the site where the Fuji Xerox Towers building was being demolished.

The worker, an Indian national, had been reported missing after the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to the incident at about 2pm. 

He was found pinned under a collapsed reinforced concrete structure around 6pm. He had no pulse, was not breathing and his body was recovered after a nearly four-hour effort to free him from the rubble.

"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," said SCDF, adding that efforts were complicated due to the weight of the concrete slab as well as mangled scaffolding around the body. 

He was freed at around 9.45pm and was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic.

SCDF deployed 11 emergency vehicles, about 70 officers and two search dogs to the scene.

They included members of the elite DART team, the 1st SCDF Division and the Marina Bay Fire Station.

"A fibre optic scope, life detection equipment ... were also deployed to detect for signs of life," said SCDF. "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."

Colonel Firoz Ramjan, commander of the 1st SCDF Division, told reporters that SCDF took “measured” actions to remove the body from the rubble, adding that the operation was challenging due to an estimated 40 to 50 tons of reinforced concrete slab that is about half a metre in thickness.

Search operations will continue through the night to ensure that no one else is trapped under the rubble, although CCTV footage shows there appears to be no other person under the structure.

In a joint statement issued just after 9pm, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said that a reinforced concrete wall from the second storey of the building at the work site collapsed during demolition works.

The wall, measuring about 10m long and 3.8m high, fell onto Bernam Street.

BCA instructed parties involved in the project to stop all construction activities, adding that it will revoke the permit for all works while investigations are ongoing. 

MOM also instructed Aik Sun Demolition and Engineering, the worker's employer, to stop all work at the site.

MOM and BCA added that a professional engineer has assessed that the remaining building is "stable" with no structural concerns.

"VERY SHOCKING"

An employee at Napolizz Pizza, located across from the affected site, said she saw police running towards the scene of the incident.

“Then we saw people started to walk (that way) and that’s when we went out and saw that the building had collapsed,” said the 29-year-old, who only wanted to be known as Ms Avinisha.

Mr James Lim, who works at neighbouring 78 Shenton Way, was alerted to the incident when he "felt the office shaken followed by a loud noise".

"Thus, can imagine the impact of the fallen concrete wall," he said.

Mr Chen Xiao Wei, who works across the road at Anson House, said he felt a “vibration” at about 2pm but did not hear anything.

“It was not so strong but can feel something. Then my colleague told me that the building collapsed,” said the 50-year-old, who works on the 12th floor.

Mr Kartik Vaidya, who also works at Anson House, said he was extremely concerned about the safety of workers when he first learnt of the collapse.

“This building has been undergoing demolition works for a few months now and so every week, when I come down, I see the levels coming down,” he said.

“To see that it has collapsed was very shocking.”

The site where Fuji Xerox Towers once stood is slated to be redeveloped as a mixed-use development called Newport Plaza.

The developer, City Developments Limited (CDL), said in a statement late on Thursday night that it is deeply saddened by the incident. 

"We share our deepest condolences with the family for their loss and are working with Aik Sun to offer our assistance," a spokesperson said.

"Our immediate priority is the well-being of the affected workers, and we are working closely with our contractors to provide the necessary support." 

CDL added that it is cooperating fully with the authorities on the investigation.