TRAGEDY OF THE COLLAPSE OF HOTEL NEW WORLD

11.02 am

Prof. S. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, Members of the House, like all other Singaporeans, are already aware of the tragedy of the collapse of the six-storey building with a basement car park at the junction of Serangoon Road and Owen Road. The latest information I have to report on casualties is as follows:

The number found dead - 10 persons; the number who were injured - 11 persons. It is still not possible to say exactly how many persons have been trapped. Our rough estimate is 100.

The building was a conventional reinforced concrete structure built in 1971. A certificate of fitness was issued for it in 1972. There were no apparent reasons why the building should collapse after some 15 years of use. It is the first time such a catastrophe involving a building has occurred in Singapore.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not propose to go into the likely causes. We must, and we will, spare no efforts in determining the cause of the tragedy. As already announced, the President will appoint a Commission of Inquiry, headed by a High Court Judge, to investigate the collapse. The Commission will make recommendations to prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy.

As regards investigative efforts, a Police investigation team led by a senior officer has been formed and investigations commenced immediately on the first day (15th March, 1986) itself. The team has taken many photographs at the scene. It is interviewing witnesses and recording their statements. The team will also examine records pertaining to the history of the building. A group of engineers will assist the investigating team. The debris and other materials which are cleared are being kept in a secure area guarded by the Police, as they could constitute evidence relevant to the Commission's inquiry.

Concerning the rescue, two fire engines from the Singapore Fire Service were the first to arrive at the scene at 11.34 am, responding within eight minutes after receiving the message at 11.26 am, and commenced rescue work immediately. Police, Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), SAF vehicles and units arrived subsequently. By 12.40 pm, ie, about an hour after the arrival of the Fire Service, seven casualties had already been conveyed to the hospitals.

The First Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, immediately activated the Executive Group which is the Crisis Management Committee consisting of officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence and other departments. They worked out a rescue plan for action.

For the rescue plan, they mobilized manpower and equipment from the Singapore Armed Forces, the medical services, the Singapore Civil Defence Force including reservists, the Singapore Fire Service and the Singapore Police Force. PWD engineers and other experts in rescue work were called upon for technical advice to the Executive Group and to supervise ground operations.

In view of the precarious state of the collapsed structure, the team of engineers advised that the damaged structure should be removed carefully so as not to jeopardize the chances of safe rescue. The experts repeatedly warned that to act in haste might result in the death of any surviving victims. From time to time, rescuers also had to stop some activities in order to use sensitive sound detection devices to try to locate survivors. Accordingly, the rescue efforts have proceeded in a careful and systematic manner which included cutting reinforced concrete slabs and removing them separately. As a result of this approach, survivors were located in several locations. After arduous efforts, two persons were rescued at about 11.40 pm yesterday.

Sir, just before leaving the location this morning for Parliament, I was personally briefed by the persons in charge of the rescue operations, the engineers and rescue teams. There are two locations where survivors are located. The number is not known. They are located in the basement level, ie, under about several floors of concrete slabs and debris. I was told that the circumstances under which these survivors are located are extremely dangerous, with overhanging concrete slabs perched above them most perilously. Rescue efforts are therefore very delicate and intricate.

Whenever survivors are located or voices are heard, the priority is to establish access to them and to get them out. We have had to stop general concrete slab removal works in order that the vibrations and movements do not cause further collapse which could jeopardize the lives of these survivors. For example, at about 2.30 am this morning, at one location, rescuers were within moments of reaching one survivor when cement slabs crashed down, preventing further access to the survivor, though fortunately not injuring him or the rescuers. Efforts are now being mounted to reach him and other survivors in that location by alternative access routes by tunnelling or other means.

Rescue workers, both Singaporeans and foreigners, both from Government services as well as the private sector, have been working round the clock since Saturday morning. All equipment and vehicles that are needed have been mobilized. We are much heartened by the tremendous response from the Singapore public to this tragedy. Besides the volunteers in Civil Defence units helping out at the scene, some private individuals and organizations have volunteered their skills, time and equipment. We have also accepted help from the MRTC which has sent some of its engineers and workteams together with equipment to assist in the rescue effort.

Sir, we express our deep condolences to the families of those who have died in this tragedy. We share the anguish of those who have friends or relatives still trapped in the collapsed building. Despite the immense problems posed by the nature of the collapse which I have described, we will spare no effort to locate and rescue all trapped persons. We are racing against time.

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Mr Speaker, Sir, can I ask of the Hon. Minister for Home Affairs why did they take such a long time (according to him it was 12.40 pm) for rescue operations to begin? Secondly, has the rescue operation worked satisfactorily, and how long will such operation take to rescue as many lives as possible? Finally, what assistance will Government render to those affected?

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam (Anson): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I just ask one question in amplification of the previous Member's question? Is the Minister aware of the disappointment among residents in the neighbourhood that the rescue vehicles, apart from the fire engine tenders, took more than an hour to reach the scene? Is that true and, if so, what was the reason?

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, responding to the questions, as I have said, the fire engines which were the first to respond were there within eight minutes. The Executive Group was activated immediately. In situations like this, there must be proper evaluation of the emergency, what type of vehicles and what type of rescue teams must be mobilized and requisitioned. All steps that need be taken were taken at the most speedy time. As I said, within an hour after the arrival of the Fire Service, seven casualties had already been conveyed to the hospitals.

The Member for Punggol has asked what assistance is being given to the families. As reported in the press and by SBC, the Community Welfare Services from the Ministry of Community Development has set up a special station where the relatives are kept informed on the hour of the progress and developments of the rescue efforts. All necessary information is given to them, and they are briefed regularly. The Ministry of Community Development is also looking into other aspects concerning the plight and welfare of the relatives.

How long will the rescue efforts continue? As I have said, the rescue efforts will continue without interruption, without drop in momentum, until we have located all the trapped persons.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would also like to express my condolences, and also on behalf of the Member for Anson, to the families of those who perished in this tragedy.

I was at the scene and I could see the difficulties involved in carrying out rescue operations. I wonder whether the Minister intends to set up a special team with this particular type of expertise for rescue operations if, we hope not, there were other such collapses. Because, from what I saw, using bare hands to remove the debris is certainly not a good method. I know, of course, of the dangers of collapsing beams and concrete slabs. Perhaps the team should look into other methods of rescue, such as the Minister has mentioned, the tunnelling method. I think that is probably the most suitable method. Could the Minister comment on that?

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, what needs to be emphasized is this. From the beginning, each stage of the rescue effort has been conducted in accordance with the professional judgment and advice of the engineers, both local and foreign consultants. I would like to add that I myself was briefed by the engineers on two occasions on the first day and on separate occasions on the second day. I repeatedly asked them whether there was any more expeditious method or better alternative than the techniques they were using. They were unanimous in their view that the techniques used to cut portions of concrete slabs and removing them was the best way to ensure maximum chances of safe rescue and maximum chances of ensuring the survival of those who may be alive and trapped. As to whether we have adequate techniques and equipment, I would like to say that we can consider ourselves fortunate that we in Singapore launched Civil Defence at the time we did, because we were able to mobilize Civil Defence forces as well as equipment which was purchased for Civil Defence purposes, including equipment to cut steel bars and reinforced concrete.

The Member for Potong Pasir says that he saw persons removing debris with bare hands. What happened was that, within the first few moments after the tragedy, passers-by and other well-intentioned persons on their own went to the site to remove the debris without instructions or advice. This is understandable. But the professionals and the rescue workers who were mobilized used methods and equipment which were proper.

The task, as I said, was very intricate. Parts of the building were connected to other parts of the building. Pulling one part would cause collapse and movements of other parts of the building. Removing slabs was not easy because the steel reinforcement bars had to be cut. In those locations where victims were thought to be trapped, the position was more agonizing because it was not possible to cut the steel reinforcement bars because of the vibrations. Hence specialized equipment with high water pressure had to be used to cut the concrete, and even then there was the problem of the steel bars, for any vibrations could have led to a collapse of the concrete slabs. In certain other places, the area for manoeuvre was very cramped, allowing only rescuers to crawl on hands and knees. Bringing in the rescuers and equipment into that confined space also posed a problem. That is why I wish to stress that the efforts of rescue have all along, and even now, been based on professional advice of the engineers. I think that is the best way. There is no other way.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, can I ask of the Hon. Minister one more question? Since this disaster has occurred, what plans does his Ministry have to declare it as a disaster area and to allow only authorized personnel to do rescue work so that such operations would not be hampered?

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, while rescue efforts are still going on, let us not talk about the possibility of other disasters. Let us get on with the job, mount the rescue operations and get as many of the persons who are trapped, rescued. When the whole operations are over, I can assure him that the relevant Ministries and the Ministry in charge of Civil Defence will undoubtedly make an analysis and assessment of the rescue efforts and draw whatever lessons that are necessary for future record.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Hon. Minister has misunderstood my question. I was asking whether his rescue operations are being hampered by people who are not supposed to be around.

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to assure Members of the House that all aspects of the operation are under control. Private sector groups, as well as individuals who have offered help, have been told that their help will be considered, their offers have been taken note of; in fact, in some cases we have already used their equipment and their personnel. To others who have helped, we have assured them that should it occur that we need their services and equipment, we would get in touch with them. As of the present time, I would not say that there is any hampering of rescue efforts. I think that all those who have offered help, including individuals, are well-intentioned, and naturally so, because I think all Singaporeans have been touched by this disaster. There is good coordination now and all things are under control.

Dr Arthur Beng Kian Lam (Fengshan): Mr Speaker, Sir, having been on the site for most of the last 48 hours, I have observed the severe pressure under which our rescue workers are working. They have been tolerating it very well and they are taking it very well. Will the Minister assure us that the Executive Group will resist pressure internationally or locally onto the rescue workers to expedite work at the expense of danger to the persons trapped and to the rescue workers?

Mr Jeyaretnam: Well-intentioned.

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not very sure what the Member for Fengshan is addressing. But if I may interpret his question, I take it that his question is this. Will the continuation of rescue efforts be such that they are in accordance with what is advised as the best, the safest and the most expeditious method of rescuing survivors in a way that, although we are racing against time, we can still ensure maximum chances of safe rescue? If that is the question, the answer is yes.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have no question to ask now. But with your permission, may I propose that the House observes a minute's silence before we move on to the other proceedings in this House?

Mr Speaker: Although we grieve at the tragedy, it is not a practice in this House to call for a minute's silence for such tragedies.