Five hurt in blast at TCM factory unit in Bukit Batok
Five workers were taken to hospitals after a wall partially collapsed at an industrial building in Bukit Batok on Monday (Sept 11) morning. Photo: Judy/Facebook
SINGAPORE — Five workers were injured on Monday (Sept 11) after an explosion caused the partial collapse of a wall and showered broken glass down from an 11th floor factory unit in Bukit Batok.
The blast occurred at around 11am at a unit in the Enterprise Centre which is understood to be occupied by traditional Chinese medicine manufacturer ZTP Ginseng Birdnest.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) sent one fire engine, three Red Rhinos, three ambulances and three support vehicles to the scene at 20 Bukit Batok Crescent. The five injured workers were taken to hospital by the SCDF.
Two out of four taken to Ng Teng Fong Hospital in Jurong were discharged on Monday, a hospital spokesperson said. A 49-year-old woman and 29-year-old man remained hospitalised. The fifth worker suffered burn injuries and was taken to Singapore General Hospital and was said to be in a stable condition Monday. It is not known who the five were employed by.
The explosions caused a non-structural brick wall — which divided two units — to collapse, and damaged the units’ false ceiling and parts of window panels, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said.
It added that the building’s structural integrity had not been affected.
However, in the interest of public safety, the affected units were closed off on Monday and areas at the ground level below the damaged windows were cordoned off.
The BCA added that the building owner will have to appoint a professional engineer to conduct a detailed investigation and recommend permanent rectification measures.
The director of ZTP Birdnest, who gave his name as Mr Phang, told TODAY that he did not know what caused the explosion. “The authorities are still investigating so we will let them complete their investigations first,” he said in Mandarin.
He said the company has been around for a decade and has about 11 staff. The firm has only one factory outlet, which was the affected unit.
Witness Kelvin Tham, 50, an electrical contractor who works in an adjacent building, said he ran out after feeling tremors.
A worker at the Kwong Satay factory, which shares the wall with ZTP Birdnest, told TODAY in Mandarin that a ceiling tile fell when the explosion occurred, but no one was injured.
“I was so shocked and scared that I’m still shaking. I thought it was an earthquake,” added the worker who declined to be named.
Ms Candice Ng, 35, who works opposite Enterprise Centre said she felt her office “shaking”.
The accounts executive told TODAY in Mandarin: “I felt a sudden shake … and my colleagues and I thought someone had either pushed the door or shaken the windows in the balcony.”
When she looked out from her sixth floor office she saw “broken windows”, adding that shards of broken glass had fallen on cars, smashing their mirrors.
It is the latest in a spate of recent workplace accidents. In July 11 workers were taken to hospital after a chemical leak at an electronics manufacturing factory at Kallang Way, while a construction worker was killed and 10 were injured when an uncompleted viaduct collapsed on Upper Changi Road East.
A worker also died after falling from a building at a Sembawang worksite.
Mr Jason Low, 35, was passing by the area when he heard a “loud explosion” coming from the building.
The construction supervisor described seeing shattered windows and glass littered the road along the building.
WATCH: CCTV footage of explosion at Bukit Butok industrial building
