Singapore authorities investigating mysterious explosion
SINGAPORE (CNA): Authorities are investigating an explosion from a telco manhole in Bukit Batok on Tuesday (Aug 24).
An unnamed person had captured the incident via their dashcam footage. The video went viral on WhatsApp on Tuesday morning, 24th August. The video shows the explosion occurring outside a multi-storey car park at Block 439 Bukit Batok West Avenue 8.
Passersby saw a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) hazmat vehicle as well as some police presence. The SCDF had cordoned off the explosion site. Passersby could see bricks scattered around the explosion site. Above all, there are no reports of injuries.
SCDF said it received a call for a “flash fire” from a manhole at about 9.10 am, and that there was no fire or reported injury when they arrived at the scene.
“Preliminary Investigations indicate that the incident is accidental in nature. Investigations into the explosion are ongoing,” added SCDF.
MP visits residents at the scene of explosion
Member of Parliament for the area, Amy Khor was at the scene as well.
“The town council has activated everybody – SP, PUB, City Gas – just to check … all the manholes in the area,” said Ms Khor. The town council and residents in the area had alerted her of the incident. Following being informed, she visited the scene immediately.
“The authorities are still investigating the cause of the explosion”, she said. “We need to make sure the residents don’t get worried”, she added.
Online netizens have poured in their views. Some netizens believe it could be a lightning strike. Others say it’s a build-up of gas that caused the explosion.
The most likely explanation came from one netizen “Rightguy99”. He claims that there might have been a build-up of gas. A lightning strike may have ignited the gas at the manhole thus causing the explosion.
The dashcam footage indicates a flash of light followed by the explosion. Thus, his explanation could be the most plausible one.
In conclusion, we will await the authorities findings.
