The charred bodies of the two people who died at the Marina Bay Suites fire were discovered by SCDF firefighters inside a service lift.

The authorities received a call at 10.11pm on Monday requesting for help at a building along Central Boulevard. Upon arrival it was established that a fire had occurred at the 65th floor of the luxury condominium.

The service lift lobby area serving the 65th floor was engulfed in flames. After putting out the fire, firefighters found two charred bodies inside the the service lift opening on the same floor.

An SCDF spokesman said the fire involved renovation materials, such as paint, at the service lift lobby area. The fire was confined to the service corridor and lift area of the 65th floor.

As of 9.30am Tuesday morning, the building was still being cordoned off with police officers at the scene. SCDF personnel were also seen entering the building with spades and hand torches.

Earlier, a woman who looked to be in her 40s and another who looked to be in her early 20s were spotted at the scene looking distraught.

Residents who had been earlier been evacuated were allowed to return to their apartments at 2.30am.

Police are as yet unable to confirm the gender, age and race of the two dead people. The cause of fire is currently under investigation.

The 221-unit development is largely unoccupied, with residents living in only 20 of the units, said Mr Thomas Tan, director of residential and marketing for Raffles Quay Asset Management, which manages the development.

The 65th floor apartment that caught fire was unsold and unoccupied, Mr Tan told reporters.