A tragic and deadly fire ripped through the Tomato Cooking School in central Singapore on Tuesday morning. Tragically, 10-year-old Aaseeli was killed, and her neighborhood, Kou, continues to work through its anger and grief. Heroes of SCDF In Singapore, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) immediately sprung into action just before 10 AM local time. Upon arrival, they found an intense fire burning on the second and third floors of the three-story shophouse.
First responders evacuated about 80 people from the damaged apartment building and nearby buildings. Many of those taken to the hospital, including five adults and 15 children, show the toll this incident has taken on the local community. To bring down the flames in moments and prevent more casualties, the SCDF deployed three jets of water to douse the fire entirely.
Official Responses and Investigations
The Tomato Cooking School went on to share their dismay and surprise at the news in a statement posted to Facebook. In a statement, they expressed their intention to continue to work closely with authorities during the investigation and urged for privacy during this time for the families involved.
“We cannot express our sadness in words for the affected families and what they are going through,” – Tomato Cooking School
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is doing all that it can to be of assistance to the victim’s family. They have solidified their commitment via consular support. This added layer of support reflects the incident’s international implications, given the victim’s Australian nationality.
The SCDF announced that initial investigations suggest the fire began in a second-floor storage space of the shophouse. They are continuing to investigate the particulars of this incident. Fire safety compliance should not be viewed as optional, the agency emphasized, noting that failure to comply can have devastating consequences for lives and property.
“SCDF takes a very serious view of fire safety non-compliances, as they pose significant risks to lives and property,” – SCDF
Legal Ramifications
Even still, authorities have sounded a powerful alarm in the wake of last week’s disaster. Indeed, according to them, the listed “responsible entity” would be subject to stringent penalties, including a fine of up to $200,000, 24 months in prison, or both. This legal position brings to light the necessity of following safety laws in public spaces, especially those that include children.
While investigations are ongoing, authorities have called on anyone with information regarding the accident to do so. The SCDF is still dedicated to finding out what caused the tragic fire, with subsequent updates as more information comes to light.
“Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing,” – SCDF
Community Impact
The emotional toll on the local community Every one of those families is still reeling from this horrific tragedy. The Tomato Cooking School expressed their shock and sorrow to those impacted by the tragedy. They have promised to continue informing the public as new information comes from the investigations that are still underway.
“Our thoughts are with all the families and individuals affected during this difficult time,” – Tomato Cooking School
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