SINGAPORE - The public will be able to enjoy fireworks displays for National Day at 10 different locations across the island this year, in areas such as Ang Mo Kio, Tampines and Woodlands.

The displays will last for around five minutes and begin simultaneously at around 8.20pm after the Pledge moment at the end of the National Day Parade (NDP) evening show held at the Star Vista.

The Pledge, followed by the National Anthem, will be recited at the end of the show, and Singaporeans across the island are encouraged to take part.

Colonel Lek Seng Khoon, deputy chairman of the NDP 2020 executive committee and chairman of the NDP 2020 safety and security committee, said at a media conference on Thursday (Aug 6): "It is our intent to bring the show and the NDP experience to Singaporeans, so that we can maximise the viewership of Singaporeans and share the NDP experience with as many Singaporeans as possible."

The fireworks will have an effective visible range of 1km to 8km and will burst at a height between 15 and 62 storeys, so as to be visible from people's homes.

Fireworks displays will also take place in Bishan, Buona Vista, Punggol, Sembawang, Tampines and Yew Tee.

Residents in estates neighbouring these locations will also be able to view the fireworks from their homes. For instance, those living in Boon Lay and Clementi would be able to see the fireworks launched from Jurong Lake Gardens.

The two venues at Jurong Lake Gardens and Marina Reservoir, as well as surrounding areas around Marina Bay, will be closed off to ensure public safety as they traditionally draw large crowds.

In response to media queries, Military Expert 6 Ben Tan, chairman of the NDP 2020 fireworks committee, said that key considerations for choosing sites included wind speed and size to ensure that people maintain a safe distance from the fireworks.

To address concerns about the fireworks display being brought into the heartland, Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Enriquez, chairman of the NDP2020 fireworks security committee, said that there is an "immediate safety radius around the firing site, which can range from less than 100m for smaller fireworks sites to more than 400m (for larger ones) to address the safety of the public and the personnel on the ground".

Around 2,000 personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and security firm Aetos, along with safe distancing ambassadors and enforcement officers, will be deployed across the island to ensure adherence to safe distancing measures for all NDP-related activities.

With this year's focus on the heartland, other activities to anticipate for National Day include:

Red Lions

The fabled parachutists will be descending at around 9am in open fields close to Ng Teng Fong Hospital and Sengkang General Hospital, provided that the weather conditions are favourable. The footage will be shown during the NDP live show at 11.10am.

State Flag Flypast

From around 10.30am to 11.25am, two Chinook helicopters, each carrying the Singapore flag 1,000 ft in the air, will fly around Singapore following two separate routes, one eastern and one western.

The eastern route will begin at the Padang at 10.35am, with the helicopter flying along the south-eastern and north-eastern coastlines of Singapore and taking the flag past housing estates such as Bedok, Pasir Ris and Punggol.

The western route will begin at the south of Singapore at 10.30am, with the helicopter flying along the south-western coastline and the western areas of Singapore, past places such as Jurong East and Choa Chu Kang.

Both flights will end at Sembawang Air Base, taking around 55 minutes each.

Roar of Unity

An aerial display known as the Roar of Unity will begin at 10.45am at the Padang - where the morning parade will take place - and end at the Paya Lebar Air Base at around 11.15am.

Flying in a Delta formation (forming an arrowhead), the six F-15 fighter jets will fly past eight hospitals as a tribute to the front-line workers in the fight against Covid-19.

These hospitals are: Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Sengkang General Hospital, Changi General Hospital, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Ng Teng Fong Hospital, National University Hospital, Alexandra Hospital and Singapore General Hospital.

Mobile column

From 10am to 1pm, the mobile column, which is a drive-past of military vehicles and assets, will display 66 assets from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Singapore Police Force (SPF) .

There will be five routes this year, in the north, south, west, north-east and south-east areas of Singapore, covering some 200km. Each will feature 13 or 14 assests and 60 to 70 participants, including the mobile column crew.

About 100 front-line workers battling the Covid-19 pandemic and essential workers will also be aboard the vehicles.

Maritime sail-past

From 10.50am to 11.15am, 13 vessels from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Police Coast Guard, Republic of Singapore Navy and the Singapore Defense Force will set sail from the Marina South Pier at around 10.50am.

The vessels will sound their ship horns for about 15 seconds towards the end of the sail-past in an expression of maritime unity and a call for Singaporeans to stand together in solidarity.

They can be viewed from the Marina Barrage and the Marina South Pier.

Said Col Lek: "The concept of this year's NDP is to bring the NDP experience into the homes of Singaporeans. As such, many of the events will be brought into the heartland...and broadcast live on television. We encourage Singaporeans to celebrate National Day with their families at home.

"In the event that they wish to go out to participate in the event outdoors, we urge that you put on a mask and observe safe distancing. Together, we can make this NDP memorable and safe."