The body of excavator operator Low Chim Lam who was trapped after the machine toppled into a sea of debris at the old Novena Ville worksite has been located.

A Singapore Civil Defence Force spokesman said a concrete slab had been pinning down the cabin where the operator was in.

The operator was previously identified as Mr Loh Chin Nam. His cousin, construction manager Loh Chin Seng, 57, arrived at the scene at about 1pm. Mr Loh Chin Seng said his cousin had been working for more than four decades in the construction industry, and was married with children.

He said he received news at about noon from a friend that an accident had occurred at the former Novena Ville site, and that an excavator had toppled.

The victim's elderly parents have heard about the accident.

The site, opposite Novena Church, used to house a row of shops including the famous Wee Nam Kee Hainanese chicken rice eatery and a Penang food restaurant, as well as apartments.

It is being developed by the Fragrance Group into a four-storey residential cum commercial development called Novena Regency.

It has not been confirmed how the excavator, which was carrying out demolition works, toppled suddenly to its left before being submerged under debris.