Power is being progressively restored to a Housing Board block in Queen Street, more than 20 hours after a blackout occurred following a coffee shop fire on March 19.
Fire and Power Outage Disrupt Residents
A 35-year-old healthcare worker, whose elderly parents live at Block 269B Queen Street, reported that electricity had been down since noon on March 19. The water supply was also disrupted for some residents.
The fire broke out at a coffee shop on the ground floor of the block around 11 a.m. on March 19. One person was hospitalized for smoke inhalation, and 20 people were evacuated.
As of 11:30 a.m. on March 20, the coffee shop remained closed, and an acrid smell lingered in the air. The two lifts at the lobby nearest the coffee shop were out of service, and a PUB water wagon was stationed in the carpark.
Residents reported that power began to be restored from 8 a.m. on March 20, with the process ongoing. A notice from Jalan Besar Town Council, addressed to 101 affected units on March 19, stated the fire caused damage to the main electrical cables supplying power to the block.
MP of Jalan Besar GRC, Denise Phua, posted on Facebook at 1 p.m. on March 19, stating that grassroots volunteers were on the ground and the town council was addressing a plumbing rupture in addition to the electricity issue. An update at 8:32 p.m. confirmed the town council was working to restore power.
The healthcare worker expressed concern for her parents, both in their 80s, navigating the darkness. Volunteers provided a small lamp around 7:30 p.m. on March 19. When power remained off at midnight, she moved her parents to her home in Woodlands, noting the lingering smell of soot and the humid conditions in their flat.
She highlighted the challenges faced by elderly residents, particularly those fasting for Hari Raya, with food in refrigerators at risk. She suggested providing portable toilets with lights and more frequent updates to residents.
Resident Vani Karu, 42, evacuated with her family at around 11 a.m. on March 19 and returned at 2 p.m. to find no hot water. She stayed with her brother and learned the electricity was restored around 8 a.m. on March 20. Her daughter, who has acute bronchitis, developed a cough and headache.
Ms. Karu anticipated needing to discard dairy products and expressed relief that no one was injured.
Another resident, Ms. Archana Gupta, returned home at 2 p.m. on March 19 to find a burst water pipe, flooding her kitchen and living room. A plumber installed a temporary water point, and her family used buckets to shower. Volunteers provided bottled water and information about a center with food and air conditioning.
Power was restored to Ms. Gupta’s flat around 8:45 a.m. on March 20, and the plumber was repairing the water pipe when contacted by reporters.
Ms. Karasi, 72, reported that electricity had not been restored as of 1:30 p.m. on March 20, and described a difficult time for her family due to the lack of fans and smoke. She was anxious about her 88-year-old mother, who uses a wheelchair, and the weak water pressure.
The Straits Times has contacted Jalan Besar Town Council for further information.
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