One worker injured in Shenton Way multi—storey car park collapse

SINGAPORE: A worker was injured after a portion of a multi—story car park in Shenton Way collapsed on Thursday evening.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said the worker sustained minor back injuries and was given outpatient treatment at Singapore General Hospital.

Preliminary findings showed the collapse could have been caused by accumulated debris against the rear of the building.

The ministry has issued a stop work order for the site.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) added that part of the car park structure slab collapsed during demolition works.

It has also revoked the permit for demolition works and ordered detailed investigations to be carried out.

According to the professional engineer in charge of construction works for the project, the adjacent 39—storey UIC building tower, which is also due for demolition, has not been affected by the collapse.

As a precautionary measure, instructions have been given to prop up a portion of the car park structure facing Shenton Way.

Two lanes of Shenton Way have been closed while the propping works are carried out.

SCDF and the police said they received a call at about 4.45pm requesting assistance at the site at No. 5 Shenton Way.

SCDF said all 19 workers who were working in the area have been accounted for.

The collapsed portion measured about 30 metres by 20 metres.

SCDF personnel, including DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team), and search dogs conducted two search operations at the affected site.

One caller to the Channel NewsAsia hotline, Mr Jack Yu, said a loud boom was heard at around 4.40pm. He was working at the DBS building opposite the construction site.

"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.

Joy Loh, a PR consultant who was also in the DBS building when the accident happened said her nerves were rattled by the accident.

"We were just having a meeting, and then we heard this loud rumbling noise, and a really loud ’voom’. It sounded like the building was going to collapse, so that was quite scary," she said.

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

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

— CNA/wm