The operator of an excavator that toppled on Thursday morning is believed to be dead.

Officers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force are also likely to take a few hours to get to the man, who is stuck in the operator's cabin, as ground at the construction site is unstable.

It is understood that the man was doing demolition work on the basement car park near Novena Ville as part of construction work to build a four-storey residential and commercial building.

SCDF personnel were at the site on Thursday morning using an onsite excavator and hydraulic rescue equipment to try and get to the operator.