Final victim in Hougang fire identified; no foul play suspected in death of family of 3
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Town council staff clearing items from the flat in Hougang Street 91 on Jan 10, a day after a fire broke out in the unit.
PHOTO: ST FILE
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SINGAPORE – The last victim of the Hougang fire that killed a family of three has been identified, more than two weeks after the blaze.
The fire broke out at about 12.40pm on Jan 9
The occupants of the flat were Mr Lee Choon Geak, 62; his wife, Madam Seow Siew Choo, 56; and their 18-year-old daughter.
Mr Lee’s body was the first to be identified
On Jan 27, the police said the remaining body was confirmed as that of a 56-year-old woman, and they do not suspect foul play.
The Straits Times understands it is the body of Madam Seow.
According to records, Mr Lee married Madam Seow in 1992, and the family moved into the flat in 2019.
Neighbours described the family as hoarders who lived in a cluttered five-room flat.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force said firefighters who forced their way into the unit faced challenges because of the excessive number of items inside.
The three bodies were found in one of the bedrooms.
The firefighters rescued a cat, a bird and eight rabbits. The bird later died.
Town council staff clearing items from the Hougang flat on Jan 10.
PHOTO: ST FILE
The Ministry of National Development and the Ministry of Social and Family Development revealed on Jan 21 that there were 627 severe hoarding cases on a watch list
There was improvement in 270 of these after efforts by the authorities. But the other 357 were complex and unresolved, involving uncooperative hoarders who refused to grant access for inspections or decluttering.
A new group called the New Environment Action Team has been launched, consisting of 28 members from government agencies, community groups and private organisations who will help to identify hoarding cases early.
Police investigations into the Hougang fire are ongoing.
