Explosion at Tuas incineration plant kills one, severely injures two workers

Singapore ― On Thursday (Sept 23) afternoon, an explosion took place at the Tuas Incineration Plant, killing one worker and severely injuring two others.

Based on The Straits Times report, when they arrived at the scene of the explosion, Tuas Avenue 20 at around 4:30 pm, they saw several police vehicles and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) vehicles there.

A worker shared with the news media outlet that a worker was killed in the accident, while another worker came forward to add that there were two injured workers, whose bodies were blackened and clothes were torn.

Channel News Asia soon reported that the person killed was a 65-year-old man, who was pronounced dead at the scene by the SCDP paramedic. Whereas, the two injured workers suffered burn injuries and were sent to the Singapore General Hospital.

Authorities were then seen speaking to the other workers who were gathered outside the plant in their standard uniforms and helmets. By 5 pm, a couple of SCDF vehicles, an ambulance and two fire trucks left the site.

SCDF later published a Facebook post stating: “Patients who suffered smoke inhalation or serious burn injuries but are in stable condition will be conveyed to Singapore General Hospital’s specialised Burn Centre instead of the nearest hospital.”

The SCDF also mentioned that there were around 80 people who managed to evacuate themselves from the area, as they further investigate the cause of the explosion.

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, also took to Facebook to express her condolences to the families of the lives lost, adding that the workers were carrying out electrical maintenance where the explosion took place.

“We will investigate the cause of this tragic incident to prevent any future occurrences,” she said.

It doesn’t go without mentioning that the Tuas plant is among the two refuse incineration plants in the country, managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

“All other TIP (Tuas incineration plant) workers are safe. Operations at the plant have been safely wound down,” the NEA confirmed and further disclosed that there was a “localised explosion” in the electric switch room.