An unusual rainbow, said to be a rare fire rainbow, caught the eye of residents in several parts of Singapore yesterday afternoon.

In photos sent to The Straits Times, the rainbow which looked like a Paddle Pop ice cream could be seen peeking out behind a cloud, against a blue sky.

National serviceman Aaron Toh, 23, told ST that he was by the pool at Bishan 8 condominium at about 5pm when he saw "a very bright orange glow" in the sky.

"But it wasn't the sun. I didn't know what it was," he said.

The glow turned into a rainbow, which he took photos of. It lasted for about 15 minutes, he said.

Photography enthusiast Scott Cheng, a 16-year-old student, was taking pictures of the sky from his home in Bishan Street 25 when he saw the rainbow.

"It looked very weird," he told ST.

Netizens picked up on the ethereal sight, with some saying it could be a rare fire rainbow.

Fire rainbows, known in technical terms as circumhorizontal arcs, are caused by light passing through cirrus clouds at high altitudes.

Lydia Lam