Diners in a kopitiam at Bugis were shocked to hear firecracker sounds on Thursday (Dec 8), followed by the floor tiles underneath their tables bursting open.
About 10 diners were in the middle of their meals when the floor tiles started cracking at the kopitiam in Block 269B, Queen Street.
A mee hoon kway stallholder told Chinese newspaper Shin Min Daily News that she heard a series of explosive sounds much like firecrackers.
She looked for the source of the noise and saw the floor tiles cracking one by one.
The diners sitting on top of the affected tiles said they felt something strange under their feet and quickly left their tables to safety.
Another stall operator said she also heard explosive noises but continued the business until 10 pm because customers could walk around the cordoned area to reach her stall.
It was reported that workers were already on the scene two hours after the incident to repair the affected tiles.
About eight tables in the indoor dining area became inaccessible to the public. However, business operations continued as usual at the outdoor dining section as customers could still reach the food stalls.
According to a home interior company specializing in tiles, cracked tiles are usually caused by underlying issues such as incorrect installation, extreme temperature changes, cracks on the surface the tile is laid on or supporting too much weight. /TISG