Two found dead after fire breaks out in Toa Payoh flat on 22 July
In a statement posted on Facebook, SCDF said it was alerted to the fire at about 7.30pm.
When firefighters arrived, the living room of the second-floor unit was ablaze.
Firefighters entered the smoke-filled flat and extinguished the flames using a water jet.
According to the Singapore Police Force, firefighters discovered a man and a woman lying motionless inside.
Both were brought out but were pronounced dead at the scene by an SCDF paramedic.
As a result of the fire, three people from neighbouring units were assessed for smoke inhalation.
They were conveyed to Singapore General Hospital for further treatment.
Videos and images circulated on social media showed the unit's doorway shrouded in thick smoke while flames raged in the living room.
Firefighters were seen braving the heavy smoke to reach the fire's source.
According to a report by Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao, neighbours believed the flat was occupied by a pair of cousins and they reportedly had a habit of storing miscellaneous items in the unit.
Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, Cai Yinzhou, visited the site to check on residents' well-being.
Three affected units have received temporary overnight accommodation arranged by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), according to Cai in an update on his Facebook page.
The People's Association has mobilised resources to supply bedding and essentials for displaced residents.
HDB engineers have been deployed to assess the block's structural safety.
Town Council teams are progressively reinstating the electricity supply to affected units and common areas.
Cleaning support will be offered to residents over the next few days.
'A few units, though relatively unaffected by the fire, have opted to seek alternative housing due to asthmatic and health concerns involving children and elderly residents,' Cai wrote.
Grassroots leaders have engaged all affected households and exchanged contact details.
A follow-up house visit will be arranged for residents next week, according to Cai.
SCDF and police investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
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Business Times
9 hours ago
- Business Times
Jeju Air jet still had a working engine when it crashed, investigation update says
[SEOUL] A Jeju Air plane that crashed in December during an emergency landing after a bird strike could have kept flying on the damaged engine that was still working after pilots shut down the other one, according to an update from South Korean investigators. The Boeing 737-800 instead belly-landed at Muan airport without its landing gear down, overshot the runway and erupted into a fireball after slamming into an embankment, killing all but two of the 181 people on board. Investigators have not yet produced a final report into the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil, but information about the plane's two engines has begun to emerge. According to a July 19 update prepared by investigators and seen by Reuters but not publicly released following complaints from victims' family members, the left engine sustained less damage than the right following a bird strike, but the left engine was shut down 19 seconds after the bird strike. The right engine experienced a 'surge' and emitted flames and black smoke, but investigators said it 'was confirmed to be generating output sufficient for flight,' in the five-page update, which included post-crash photos of both engines. No reason for the crew's actions was given and the probe is expected to last months as investigators reconstruct the plane's technical state and the picture understood by its pilots. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Experts say most air accidents are caused by multiple factors and caution against putting too much weight on incomplete evidence. More questions So far, public attention has focused on the possibility that the crew may have shut down the less-damaged engine, rekindling memories of a 1989 Boeing 737-400 crash in Kegworth, England, where pilots shut down a non-damaged engine by mistake. The disaster led to multiple changes in regulations including improvements in crew communication and emergency procedures. A source told Reuters on Monday that the South Korea-led probe had 'clear evidence' that pilots had shut off the less-damaged left engine after the bird strike, citing the cockpit voice recorder, computer data and a switch found in the wreckage. But the latest update on the crash also raises the possibility that even the more heavily damaged engine that was still running could have kept the plane aloft for longer. It did not say what level of performance the operating engine still had, nor what extra options that might have given to the plane's emergency-focused crew before the jet doubled back and landed in the opposite direction of the runway from its initial plan with its landing gear up. Both engines contained bird strike damage and both experienced engine vibrations after the strike. The right engine showed significant internal damage, the Korean-language update from South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) said, but it did not describe the damage found in the left engine. The update did not say how the left engine was operating nor the state of systems connected to either engine, said former US National Transportation Safety Board investigator Greg Feith when shown the document translated by Reuters. It contains some new facts but omits far more, resulting in a 'cryptic' document, he said. ARAIB, which plans to issue a final report next June, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Safety experts say it is common for early reports to contain sparse facts and limited analysis while investigations continue. A preliminary report released in January said feathers and blood stains from ducks were found in both engines. The engines - made by CFM International, jointly owned by GE and France's Safran - were examined in May and no defects or fault data were found beyond the bird and crash damage, the report said. Families of those who died in the disaster were briefed on the engine findings but asked investigators not to release the July 19 report, saying that it appeared to apportion blame to the pilots without exploring other factors. The report was withheld but Reuters and South Korean media obtained copies. Boeing and GE referred questions about the crash to ARAIB. Safran did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jeju Air has previously said it is cooperating with ARAIB and is awaiting publication of the investigation. Under global aviation rules, civil air investigations aim to discover crash causes without assigning blame or liability. The Jeju Air pilots' union said ARAIB was 'misleading the public' by suggesting there was no problem with the left engine given that bird remains were found in both. A source who attended the briefing told Reuters that investigators told family members the left engine also experienced a disruptive 'surge', citing black box data. The pilot union and representatives of bereaved families have asked that evidence be released to support any findings. Relatives say the investigation also needs to focus on the embankment containing navigation equipment, which safety experts have said likely contributed to the high death toll. Global aviation standards call for any navigation equipment in line with runways to be installed on structures that easily give way in case of impact with an aircraft. South Korea's transport ministry has identified seven domestic airports, including Muan, with structures made of concrete or steel, rather than materials that break apart on impact and has said it will improve them. Designs for the new structures are in progress, a ministry official told Reuters last week. AFP
AsiaOne
a day ago
- AsiaOne
Jeju Air jet still had a working engine when it crashed, investigation update says, Asia News
SYDNEY SEOUL - A Jeju Air plane that crashed in December during an emergency landing after a bird strike could have kept flying on the damaged engine that was still working after pilots shut down the other one, according to an update from South Korean investigators. The Boeing 737-800 instead belly-landed at Muan airport without its landing gear down, overshot the runway and erupted into a fireball after slamming into an embankment, killing all but two of the 181 people on board. Investigators have not yet produced a final report into the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil, but information about the plane's two engines has begun to emerge. According to a July 19 update prepared by investigators and seen by Reuters but not publicly released following complaints from victims' family members, the left engine sustained less damage than the right following a bird strike, but the left engine was shut down 19 seconds after the bird strike. The right engine experienced a "surge" and emitted flames and black smoke, but investigators said it "was confirmed to be generating output sufficient for flight," in the five-page update, which included post-crash photos of both engines. No reason for the crew's actions was given and the probe is expected to last months as investigators reconstruct the plane's technical state and the picture understood by its pilots. Experts say most air accidents are caused by multiple factors and caution against putting too much weight on incomplete evidence. More questions So far, public attention has focused on the possibility that the crew may have shut down the less-damaged engine, rekindling memories of a 1989 Boeing 737-400 crash in Kegworth, England, where pilots shut down a non-damaged engine by mistake. The disaster led to multiple changes in regulations including improvements in crew communication and emergency procedures. A source told Reuters on Monday that the South Korea-led probe had "clear evidence" that pilots had shut off the less-damaged left engine after the bird strike, citing the cockpit voice recorder, computer data and a switch found in the wreckage. But the latest update on the crash also raises the possibility that even the more heavily damaged engine that was still running could have kept the plane aloft for longer. It did not say what level of performance the operating engine still had, nor what extra options that might have given to the plane's emergency-focused crew before the jet doubled back and landed in the opposite direction of the runway from its initial plan with its landing gear up. Both engines contained bird strike damage and both experienced engine vibrations after the strike. The right engine showed significant internal damage, the Korean-language update from South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) said, but it did not describe the damage found in the left engine. The update did not say how the left engine was operating nor the state of systems connected to either engine, said former US National Transportation Safety Board investigator Greg Feith when shown the document translated by Reuters. It contains some new facts but omits far more, resulting in a "cryptic" document, he said. ARAIB, which plans to issue a final report next June, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Safety experts say it is common for early reports to contain sparse facts and limited analysis while investigations continue. A preliminary report released in January said feathers and blood stains from ducks were found in both engines. The engines - made by CFM International, jointly owned by GE and France's Safran - were examined in May and no defects or fault data were found beyond the bird and crash damage, the report said. Families of those who died in the disaster were briefed on the engine findings but asked investigators not to release the July 19 report, saying that it appeared to apportion blame to the pilots without exploring other factors. The report was withheld but Reuters and South Korean media obtained copies. Boeing and GE referred questions about the crash to ARAIB. Safran did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jeju Air has previously said it is cooperating with ARAIB and is awaiting publication of the investigation. Under global aviation rules, civil air investigations aim to discover crash causes without assigning blame or liability. The Jeju Air pilots' union said ARAIB was "misleading the public" by suggesting there was no problem with the left engine given that bird remains were found in both. A source who attended the briefing told Reuters that investigators told family members the left engine also experienced a disruptive "surge," citing black box data. [[nid:720440]] The pilot union and representatives of bereaved families have asked that evidence be released to support any findings. Relatives say the investigation also needs to focus on the embankment containing navigation equipment, which safety experts have said likely contributed to the high death toll. Global aviation standards call for any navigation equipment in line with runways to be installed on structures that easily give way in case of impact with an aircraft. South Korea's transport ministry has identified seven domestic airports, including Muan, with structures made of concrete or steel, rather than materials that break apart on impact and has said it will improve them. Designs for the new structures are in progress, a ministry official told Reuters last week.
CNA
3 days ago
- CNA
Ageism seen to be on the rise in Singapore, more than race and gender bias: IPS survey
SINGAPORE: A new survey has found that more people in Singapore consider ageism to be on the rise compared to racism or gender bias. A clear majority still believe that levels of prejudice across various identity markers have not changed from five years ago, according to the survey by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS). IPS, a think-tank within the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, released its findings on Friday (Jul 25) in a paper titled Prejudice, Attitudes and Critical Perspectives on Race in Singapore. For the first time, the IPS survey also covered attitudes towards Chinese privilege and critical race theory, which came up in a nationwide debate between survey cycles. The survey gathered responses from 4,000 citizens and permanent residents. This sample was representative of the age, race and gender make-up of Singapore's resident population. The study's authors, Dr Mathew Mathews, Mr Melvin Tay and Dr Teo Kay Key, said that age-based prejudice stood out as the area with the "greatest perceived deterioration". The survey found that 17.6 per cent of people thought ageism had become more common than five years ago. This was less than the 21.3 per cent recorded in 2018. But it was noticeably higher than the 11.2 per cent and 8.8 per cent who believed racism and gender bias had worsened, respectively, in the latest survey. AGEISM AT WORK Those aged 51 to 65 had the highest proportion of respondents who felt ageism had worsened, at 21.1 per cent. This was followed by the 36 to 50 age group (17.5 per cent), 18 to 35 age group (17.3 per cent) and lastly the respondents above 65 (14.3 per cent). The study's authors noted that this differed from the more linear survey findings in 2018, where the oldest age group was also the most likely to perceive more age-related bias. They linked these findings to workplace discrimination and career ceilings. "Individuals in the 51 to 65 age group may face challenges in the workplace, such as limited opportunities for promotions, training and job security," said the researchers. "They may feel overlooked for career advancements or suspect that age plays a role in hiring decisions, reinforcing perceptions of age bias." At the same time, measures in recent years that were aimed at the oldest age group above 65 may have helped to lessen negative sentiments related to ageism, they said. The proportion who felt that ageism had stayed about the same widened to 54.6 per cent. This was 5.5 percentage points higher than in 2018. Accordingly, the proportion who saw ageism becoming less common fell to 27.8 per cent, down 1.8 percentage points from 2018. SOME GROUPS MORE LIKELY TO SEE PREJUDICE Turning to other forms of prejudice, the authors highlighted that nationality-based bias was also of relatively high concern, with 13.9 per cent who see it worsening. Apart from age, race, gender and nationality, the survey also covered religion, language and sexuality. Perceptions of bias across all these identity markers have largely stabilised over time, with a clear majority saying that levels of prejudice remained the same, the researchers said. But they pointed out that "stability masks divergence" among minorities, younger age groups and the less affluent, who tend to have sharper concerns towards prejudice. For example, younger people were more likely to see an increase in racism compared to older respondents. "Younger generations today are more educated on social issues, including racial prejudice, due to greater exposure to conversations on social media platforms and public discussions around these topics," said the researchers. "This awareness can heighten their sensitivity to issues of prejudice, leading them to perceive it as more prevalent." ONE-THIRD SUPPORT A SINGLE DOMINANT CULTURE The survey also found that one-third of respondents felt it would be better for Singapore if everyone embraced a dominant national culture instead of different racial cultures. This proportion was the same as that in the 2018 survey, and lower than the 55.4 per cent recorded in an earlier survey in 2013. Compared with Chinese respondents, Malay and Indian respondents were more likely to strongly disagree that a dominant national culture is better. But at the aggregate levels of agreement and disagreement, there were no major differences across racial groups. CHINESE PRIVILEGE AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY Chinese privilege and critical race theory came under scrutiny amid xenophobic comments and high-profile racist incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study's authors noted that racial discourse in Singapore is shaped by "a state-led ideology of multiracialism, which publicly promotes racial harmony and equality". In contrast, critical race theory centres the experiences of marginalised groups and interrogates the pervasiveness of racism, which is seen as normalised and deeply embedded in social structures, they said. The survey asked respondents to agree or disagree with seven statements about critical race theory being applied to Singapore. A high proportion of 73 per cent felt uncomfortable using "concepts from abroad" like critical race theory and white privilege to talk about race in Singapore. A majority agreed with the statements that race is a social rather than biological construct (57.1 per cent) and that racism is a common experience for racial minorities (56.2 per cent). Racial minorities, younger and more educated respondents and those living in public housing were more likely to agree that racism is a common experience for minorities. While 59.6 per cent agreed that "it is easier to be a Chinese Singaporean in Singapore", a lower 44.7 per cent agreed that Chinese privilege exists in the country. Attitudes towards Chinese privilege diverged along race and age lines, with racial minorities and younger respondents again more likely to acknowledge the existence of such privilege. Under 46 per cent of all respondents agreed that Chinese Singaporeans only encourage racial equality if it serves their interests, and just 30.4 per cent agreed that only minorities are qualified to talk about racism. The study's authors said that openness towards critical race perspectives in Singapore presents both opportunities and challenges. While younger Singaporeans are attuned to structural inequalities, "caution is needed" when it comes to the "wholesale adoption of foreign terminologies and frameworks", they said. The researchers noted that experiences of discrimination persist, and that there is a still a gap between "multicultural ideals and everyday realities".
