$204,000 raised in online drive to help Tuas fire victim's family
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A fund-raising initiative for the family of one of the Tuas fire victims hit its initial target of $200,000 last night.
Foreign worker Marimuthu S., 38, suffered serious burns in an explosion at a Tuas industrial building last Wednesday, and is one of three workers who later died of their injuries. Ten workers suffered burn injuries from the explosion.
The fund-raising initiative on Giving.sg had raised about $204,000 from more than 2,800 donors as at 11pm last night.
Mr Marimuthu is survived by his wife and two children, the younger of whom is a 10-month-old girl he had never met.
When his wife gave birth to their second child in India last April, Singapore was in the middle of its circuit breaker period.
Mr Akash Mohapatra, a volunteer at non-profit organisation ItsRainingRaincoats, which focuses on migrant worker issues, told The Straits Times that the team was extremely grateful for the outpouring of support for the victims.
"These injuries take a great deal of rehabilitation and we hope the families of the deceased and injured workers will get the full extent of workman's compensation," he said.
"That will never bring back a father, son or husband gone forever, but it will at least ensure that... the grieving families are not destitute."
The social enterprise also hopes to see more steps taken to ensure that workplace safety for migrant workers is improved and that accidents like this do not happen again, he added.
ItsRainingRaincoats is working on obtaining further information about the other victims.
Ms Swarna Lata Chandramohan, who donated to the initiative, said on the Giving.sg website: "I can understand what the family is going through and how distraught they will be... this is the only way to help the family."
Another donor, Ms Mary Tan, said: "I want to do a little bit to support this late migrant worker and his wishes for his family. He is also human. He has worked hard to contribute to Singapore and his family. Rest in peace!"
