Two workers who died as a result of the Tuas industrial fire last Wednesday - along with site supervisor Marimuthu S, a 38-year-old Indian national - have been identified.
In a statement posted on Facebook yesterday, non-profit organisation ItsRainingRaincoats (IRR), which focuses on migrant worker issues, shared an update on the two workers, who were from Bangladesh.
The second of five siblings, Shohel Md turned 23 last month. Before he left for Singapore in 2019, he told his father to stop working and assured his parents he would take care of the family.
"But now both parents have lost a beloved son, a strong pillar and a life full of potential. He was excited to start his career and life in Singapore but all that ended in a blaze last week," the post read.
The other worker, 29-year-old Anisuzzaman "Ani" Md, was in Singapore for about 17 months before the accident. As the sole breadwinner of his family, Mr Anisuzzaman had taken a loan to secure a job here.
IRR said: "Everyone in their hometown knew Ani. He not only served his family but was always ready to support anyone. His brother's grief is deep and had our volunteers in tears as well. He wishes that people will know how wonderful and dear Ani was to him."
Ten workers suffered burn injuries in the fire at No. 32E Tuas Avenue 11. Two were taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) by their employer while the Singapore Civil Defence Force rushed eight workers to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) for burn injuries.
Of these eight workers, three have died of their injuries.
IRR also posted an update on Mr Marimuthu's family. The migrant worker, a father of two who had been working in Singapore for 12 years, did not get to meet his 10-month-old daughter.
When his wife gave birth to their second girl in India last April, Singapore was going through its circuit breaker. He was last home in India in August 2019.
Mr Marimuthu was the pillar of his family, which comprised four sisters, their mother, a father who is blind, as well as his wife and children.
"We have also identified the five migrant workers who are still in critical condition. Our volunteers are engaged to connect with their families to provide support," IRR said.
The Tuas industrial unit is registered to Shield+, a fire protection equipment supplier.
But the occupier at the time was Stars Engrg, the employer of the eight workers who were taken to SGH.
When contacted yesterday, Stars Engrg spokesman Chua Xing Da said four of the five workers at SGH have been moved from intensive care to the high dependency ward and are stable.
Mr Chua, who confirmed the identities of the three workers who died, said the two workers with minor injuries who were taken to NTFGH last Wednesday have since been discharged. Investigations into the cause of the explosion are still ongoing, he said.
The company is in discussions with the insurance company to determine the compensation amount for the affected workers, Mr Chua added.
Under the Work Injury Compensation Act, the minimum compensation amount for death is $76,000 while the maximum is $225,000. The maximum compensation for medical expenses is $45,000.
A spokesman for the Manpower Ministry told The Straits Times yesterday that the ministry "is working with the deceased workers' employer Stars Engrg for their next-of-kin to claim work injury compensation under the Work Injury Compensation Act.
"The Migrant Workers' Centre has also put together donations for the families of the deceased workers as they await work injury compensation," it said.
Stars Engrg said preparations are under way to repatriate the bodies of the dead workers to Bangladesh and India.
Separately, a fund-raising initiative by IRR on Giving.sg for the victims has raised about $325,000 from more than 4,000 donors as at 11.30am yesterday. IRR said it will be dividing the proceeds equally among the victims.
"Give Asia will assist to disburse the proceeds to the families once the campaign closes, and as in previous cases, we will advise the families on managing the funds to the best extent we can," IRR said.
The campaign is expected to run until noon today.
The founder of IRR, Ms Dipa Swaminathan, noted the efforts of volunteers in identifying and extending support to the victims and their families.
"This effort has not been easy and has taken a huge physical and emotional toll on our volunteer team involved. They have been working non-stop for days, speaking to crying family members, answering questions from donors and media, doing all the due diligence... Many of our volunteers have lost appetite and sleep."
