Workers looking on in concern after the explosions, which occurred when gas cylinders fell off a lorry on its way to the Marina Bay Sands construction site. -- PHOTO: COURTESY OF SHAM
SEVERAL explosions rocked the Marina Bay area yesterday afternoon, sending a column of fire and thick black smoke billowing from the site.
The blasts worried office workers and passers-by, many of whom called The Straits Times.
The explosions occurred after gas cylinders fell off a lorry making its way to the Marina Bay Sands construction site.
A spokesman for gas company Soxal said three racks carrying six acetylene cylinders each tumbled off and fell onto the road as the lorry was making the turn into Marina View at about 2.40pm.
Five cylinders, which weighed about 50kg each, ruptured on impact, leading to the fire and blasts, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said.
The lorry belonged to logistics company UBTS, contracted by Soxal to deliver the acetylene - a flammable gas used in welding - to a customer at the Integrated Resort work site.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control within 10 minutes. No one was hurt.
The Manpower Ministry said it was investigating the cause together with the police and SCDF.
The sound of the blasts alarmed workers in nearby construction sites. One of them was Mr Samsul Late Abdul Samad, 37, who works at the Marina Bay Financial Centre site.
The Bangladeshi worker from Kiong Siah Engineering said he saw smoke, then heard three or four loud explosions. 'My friend told me to run somewhere safe,' he said.
Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.
