Two workers rescued after being stranded on gondola at Raffles City Tower

SINGAPORE: Two workers were rescued on Monday (Jul 21) after they became stranded on a gondola at Raffles City Tower.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to the incident at about 11.20am, with the workers trapped on the gondola between the 28th and 29th floors.

"Upon arrival, firefighters immediately checked on the gondola's stability, as well as the condition of the workers on the gondola," said SCDF in a Facebook post.

The Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) set up rescue equipment on the 29th and 30th floors. 

"The gondola was then secured with safety lines, before a DART rescuer descended onto the gondola to rescue the two workers," SCDF said.

Both workers, wearing safety harnesses, were secured and taken into the building through the windows on the 29th and 30th floors.

The workers were assessed by an SCDF paramedic and taken to Raffles Hospital in a stable condition, said SCDF.

At around 2.30pm, the gondola had been stabilised and was being raised back to the roof. It was removed about 15 minutes later.

In response to CNA's queries, a Raffles City Singapore spokesperson said that the workers were carrying out routine facade resealant work when the weather "suddenly changed".

This happened at about 11.20am, and an immediate stop-work order was issued, the spokesperson said.

"While the gondola was being retracted, it tilted to one side. Given the weather, it was deemed unsafe to continue straightening and retracting the gondola at that point. All supporting ropes remain intact."

SCDF and the gondola vendor were "activated immediately to provide assistance onsite". Both workers were moved to safety by 12.30pm and taken to hospital for medical checkups.

Initial checks do not indicate injury to either worker, said Raffles City Singapore.

"Both workers were secured within the gondola with the safety harness at the time of the incident, and the gondola in question had just undergone a full safety check last month. We will be working with our gondola vendor to investigate the cause of the incident."

Additional reporting by Syamil Sapari.