SCDF officer injured in Buona Vista taxi explosion ‘recovering well’
Photo: K Shanmugam Sc/Facebook
SINGAPORE — The firefighter injured by a fireball from an exploding taxi at Buona Vista last week is “recovering well”, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam on Sunday (May 7).
In a post on his Facebook page, Mr Shanmugam detailed his visit to Mr Eka Putra’s house where he met the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) full-time National Serviceman and his mother.
“They are the only persons in the household. The father has passed away, and the other children are all overseas. He told me that he plans to study mechanical engineering after he completes his National Service,” wrote Mr Shanmugam.
Mr Shanmugam added that he has alerted Member of Parliament for MacPherson, Ms Tin Pei Ling, to Mr Eka’s condition. She will drop in on the family to check on them and offer assistance, he added.
Four men, including Mr Eka, suffered burn injuries and were taken to the National University Hospital after the incident on April 30.
TODAY understands that the compressed natural gas (CNG) tank in the boot of the Trans-Cab taxi had exploded, blowing off its rear. The taxi had been in an accident with a car at Commonwealth Avenue, near the junction with North Buona Vista Road, earlier, and caught fire afterwards.
Officials said preliminary investigations show that the likely cause of the explosion was the accident. Investigations by the authorities, including the Land Transport Authority, are ongoing.
