Accident occurs at former UIC building work site

SINGAPORE: Callers to the Channel NewsAsia hotline said an accident has occurred at the former UIC building construction site.

Eyewitnesses said it seemed like a scaffolding had collapsed.

Mr Jack Yu, a ship broker working at the DBS building opposite the construction site, said a loud boom was heard at around 4.40pm.

"It was a very loud bang, like boom, and then the ground shook for a while. The construction site has been there for the past month, so we are used to the hammering sound and things like that but suddenly when the loud boom - we thought something must have happened," he said.

"We noticed there was some smoke coming out, but it was actually dust, not actually smoke. When the dust has settled we noticed that half of the construction building that is being demolished had collapsed."

Mr Yu added that the accident caused shaking at the DBS building for a few seconds.

He said SCDF personnel and police arrived at the scene around 20 to 30 minutes later.

Mr Yu added DBS building management has sent out an email to assure those in the building that the building is safe.

Check out our Storify documenting photos and videos tweeted by eyewitnesses

- CNA/wm