At least 1 dead after fire in Jalan Bukit Merah flat, about 60 evacuated
The Singapore Civil Defence Force said that it responded to the fire at Block 106 in Jalan Bukit Merah at about 4pm on Aug 13.
SINGAPORE – At least one person has died after a fire broke out in a Bukit Merah flat on Aug 13.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in an evening Facebook post that it responded to the fire at Block 106 in Jalan Bukit Merah at about 4pm.
When firefighters arrived at the scene, the living room and bedroom of a unit on the fourth floor were in flames, with SCDF personnel making use of a water jet to extinguish the blaze.
In the midst of putting out the blaze, firefighters found two people in the kitchen.
Both were unconscious and taken to Singapore General Hospital. The Straits Times understands one of them has died. ST has contacted the police for more information.
Another two people from neighbouring units were also taken to the same hospital – one felt unwell while the other suffered from smoke inhalation.
In total, about 60 people from the affected block were evacuated as a precautionary measure. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
10 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Jail for woman who extorted man after they exchanged sexual texts
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Student-care teacher Savanna Goh was sentenced to two years and six months' jail on Aug 14. SINGAPORE – A student-care teacher at a tuition centre exchanged sexual text messages with a man she met on an online dating platform, but then proceeded to extort him of $700. Savanna Goh told the victim, a 23-year-old full-time national serviceman (NSF), that her uncle was working for the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and that she would alert him about the 'uncomfortable' messages she had received if the NSF failed to hand her the amount. The victim, identified in court documents as V1, complied out of fear. However, this 'uncle' did not exist. The 24-year-old Singaporean woman was sentenced to two years and six months' jail on Aug 14 after she pleaded guilty to one count each of extortion, cheating and misusing a computer system. Deputy Public Prosecutor Sean Teh said: 'During investigations, the accused admitted that she came up with the idea to extort and cheat money from V1 on her own as she found him to be an easy target that would succumb to her threats easily.' The prosecutor told the court that V1 got to know Goh in April 2023, and she claimed to be a pre-school teacher. The pair later communicated with text messages and phone calls. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Jalan Bukit Merah fire: PMD battery could have started fatal blaze, says SCDF Singapore askST: What to do in the event of a fire at home? Singapore 4 housebreaking suspects taken to Bukit Timah crime scene under police escort Asia AirAsia flight from KL to Incheon lands at the wrong airport in South Korea Singapore Reformative training for teen who cheated man of $47k Rolex watch on former stepdad's instructions Opinion Could telco consolidation spell the end of attractive mobile plans? Asia Strong India-Singapore ties key to economic growth amid 'volatile landscape': DPM Gan Asia Citizenship for foreign talent: How this footballer from Brazil became Vietnam's favourite 'Son' During these conversations, they talked about sexual topics and flirted with each other. They also talked about meeting in person so that they could engage in sexual activities. In May 2023, Goh lied to V1, claiming that she needed money to pay hospital bills. She also told him that they could meet in person in return. Believing the offender, he transferred $430 to her on May 13 that year. The next day, Goh asked him for more money, and he transferred another $600. But after he did so, she told him that she was 'uncomfortable' with his text messages and threatened to tell her 'SPF uncle' about them. A fearful V1 then transferred $700 to Goh on May 16, 2023. However, she continued to threaten him and stated that he had to pay her $5,000 in compensation. She also said that if her demands were not met, she would inform the police about the messages so they wo uld press charges against him. DPP Teh said: 'The accused eventually told V1 that she would settle the matter for $2,500. V1 told her that he did not have the money to pay her. 'The accused threatened V1 that he could either compensate her privately or face up to a $100,000 fine or imprisonment following criminal prosecution... He later stopped responding after the accused demanded $500.' On June 1, 2023, Goh texted V1, claiming that she had some money to repay him. However, she also asked him for another $1,000 to purportedly activate her bank account. When V1 questioned her, she replied that he needed to transfer to her $950 instead. He complied and contacted his bank about the matter shortly after 11am that day. He was then advised to lodge a police report. He blocked Goh on messaging platform Telegram two days later, and she reached out to him on WhatsApp asking him to unblock her. When he refused, she created a fake Telegram account and pretended to be a police officer. She then used the account to reach out to V1. Among other things, Goh told him: 'I need you to do whatever she (asked) you to do, because this is a very serious offence and you can be charged and... imprisoned if you are reported. 'Please unblock her from WhatsApp and from phone calls. If not, I'll take serious action towards you.' V1 apologised to the 'police officer' and alerted the authorities at around 11.30am on June 3, 2023. In an unrelated case in September 2022, Goh saw a Telegram post by one ' Ange Emily' involving the purchase of bank accounts. Wanting to earn some cash, she sent Ange Emily a text message and decided to sell her bank account after she was promised $1,600 for it. Goh also shared with the unknown person her internet banking information. In the end, Ange Emily did not hand Goh any money, and instead blocked her on Telegram. Goh's bail has been set at $15,000, and she is expected to begin serving her sentence on Aug 18.
Straits Times
20 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Pakistani militants kill six policemen in eight targeted attacks
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox PESHAWAR, Pakistan - Militants in Pakistan's northwest carried out eight overnight gun and grenade attacks targeting the police, killing six officers, an official said on Thursday. The attacks targeted police stations, checkpoints and patrols across seven districts in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, police officer Mohammad Ali Babakhel said, as the nation of 240 million people celebrated its 78th independence day. The militants used rocket-propelled grenade launchers in some of the attacks, he said, adding six officers were killed and another nine injured. A spike in the attacks in recent months is a tough challenge to handle for the overstretched and under-equipped police force, the frontline against militant attacks. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a Pakistani Islamist militant group with links to the Afghan Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attacks. The TTP is an umbrella group of several Sunni Islamist groups. It has been fighting against the state since 2007 in a bid to overthrow the government and replace it with its version of Islamic law. Attacks have accelerated since the TTP revoked a ceasefire with the Pakistani government in late 2022. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Jalan Bukit Merah fire: PMD battery could have started fatal blaze, says SCDF Singapore askST: What to do in the event of a fire at home? Singapore 4 housebreaking suspects taken to Bukit Timah crime scene under police escort Asia AirAsia flight from KL to Incheon lands at the wrong airport in South Korea Singapore Reformative training for teen who cheated man of $47k Rolex watch on former stepdad's instructions Opinion Could telco consolidation spell the end of attractive mobile plans? Asia Strong India-Singapore ties key to economic growth amid 'volatile landscape': DPM Gan Asia Citizenship for foreign talent: How this footballer from Brazil became Vietnam's favourite 'Son' In 2024, Islamist militants carried out 335 countrywide attacks, killing 520 people, according to the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, an independent organisation. Pakistan says the militants operate out of neighbouring Afghanistan, where they train fighters and plan attacks, a charge Kabul has denied. REUTERS
Straits Times
41 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Nigeria's defence chief defends military conduct amid scrutiny
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa speaks during a meeting where the Nigerian Navy announced the arrest of 76 vessels over oil theft in two years, at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Marvellous Durowaiye/File Photo ABUJA - Nigeria's defence chief has defended operations against insurgents and criminal gangs that have caused civilian casualties, saying the military is doing what it can to prevent loss of life. Nigeria's military has increasingly used airstrikes against the growing threat of militias in the north and central regions. It has admitted to mistakenly targeting civilians while pursuing armed gangs in the northwest, where there is widespread insecurity, and has promised to investigate such cases. Defence Chief of Staff General Christopher Musa also called for a review of international laws, arguing that they restrict state forces while leaving non-state actors "who kill at will" unchecked. In rare comments to reporters in the capital Abuja on Wednesday, Musa said the military frequently halts operations to prevent civilian harm, even at the cost of compromising tactical advantages. "We are made to look as if we are committing the worst atrocities ever, but I can assure you that we are doing the best we can. We respect human rights and value civilian lives," he said. "We often abort operations to avoid civilian casualties ... this has, in part, prolonged the conflict." The remarks come after growing scrutiny of Nigeria's counterinsurgency operations and accusations by rights groups that the military has used excessive force. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Jalan Bukit Merah fire: PMD battery could have started fatal blaze, says SCDF Singapore 4 housebreaking suspects taken to Bukit Timah crime scene under police escort Asia AirAsia flight from KL to Incheon lands at the wrong airport in South Korea Asia Strong India-Singapore ties key to economic growth amid 'volatile landscape': DPM Gan Singapore Reformative training for teen who cheated man of $47k Rolex watch on former stepdad's instructions Asia Malaysian MP Rafizi says his son was jabbed with syringe in planned attack, threatened with Aids Asia Citizenship for foreign talent: How this footballer from Brazil became Vietnam's favourite 'Son' Singapore From quiet introvert to self-confident student: How this vulnerable, shy teen gets help to develop and discover her strength But there are frustrations within Nigeria's armed forces, where many believe they are being judged against higher standards than comparable forces in more developed countries. They also say too little account is taken of the difficulties of fighting informal armed Islamist insurgents or criminal gangs who operate entirely among civilians. The general cited ongoing training in human rights and international humanitarian law for military personnel, both locally and abroad, as evidence of progress. REUTERS
