Fire breaks out in Toa Payoh flat
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the incident at Block 229 Toa Payoh Lorong 8 at about 1.10pm.
"SCDF is currently at the scene conducting a firefighting operation," it said in a Facebook post.
Footage showed thick smoke billowing out of several windows of the unit, with a few window frames mangled from the heat.
The smoke could also be seen from the nearby Central Expressway.
Videos from a CNA reader showed a cordon at the block with several SCDF officers on the scene.
This is a developing story, please refresh for updates.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Independent Singapore
7 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Man warns SG singles: Don't marry Scorpios! My mum and sis are one; they're masters at holding grudges, so spare yourself and your future kid the drama
SINGAPORE: In the ever-entertaining world of astrology-fuelled drama, a Singaporean man has issued a galactic-level warning to humanity: 'Please guys, don't marry Scorpios. Just don't. Help yourself and your future kid be at peace.' This astrological red flag was raised anonymously on the SGWhispers website, which was then flung into the Facebook cosmos, where it promptly went supernova. 'My mum and sister are Scorpios… I have never heard a similar experience amongst my friends. They are experts at holding grudges, which you never knew existed until an argument erupts, and you are like wth since when were you pissed about that?' His post, dripping with exhaustion and celestial trauma, painted a vivid picture of Scorpio-fuelled domestic warfare. He then confessed the pain of living with two memory vaults that never forget or forgive. 'Seriously, they will never forget or forgive. I don't even know why I should be sorry when I was the victim -.-' With that, he launched his public service announcement: Don't marry Scorpios! Ever. Not even with Mercury in retrograde for the sake of your sanity and your hypothetical children's peace of mind. However, the stars weren't done stirring the pot. Enter a second Singaporean, armed with a 30-year friendship and a loving Scorpio partner, who was clearly not having it. 'I read the earlier post with much disagreement. The advice against marrying Scorpios is often based on misunderstandings about their personalities.' In a post so soothing it might as well have been dipped in lavender oil, the respondent launched a heartfelt defence of Scorpio-kind, describing them as passionate, loyal, introspective, and deeply capable of meaningful connection. 'Sure, Scorpios are known for being intense and a little mysterious… but these traits can actually make them really great partners. Their passion and loyalty can bring a lot of depth and commitment to a relationship.' The netizen added that Scorpios aren't cold—they're just emotionally encrypted. Like a human vault with no 'forgot password' option. 'Far from being a 'dangerous' sign to marry, Scorpios are actually protective and caring once they trust you.' The defender then called for common sense over cosmic stereotypes: 'Dismissing Scorpios based solely on their star sign would be an unfair and narrow-minded view of a deeply complex and capable individual.' The battle of the star signs quickly became a masterclass in modern compatibility theory versus Mercury-fuelled mayhem. While the first man found himself traumatised by the long emotional memory and grudge-hoarding tendencies of his Scorpio relationships, the second encouraged readers to look past the horoscope and into the heart. The philosophical divide is whether your relationship should be governed by love languages or lunar alignments. So what can we learn from this? Perhaps it's not the Scorpio moon that's ruining relationships, but how we orbit one another emotionally. After all, whether your partner's a Leo, Libra, or a lunchbox-loving Taurus, it's communication—not constellation—that keeps the peace. As the Scorpio wars rage on in comment sections and coffee shops alike, one truth remains universal: whether it's stars or scars, we all carry a little baggage into our relationships. The question is whether we're willing to unpack it or just blame it on Pluto. In another cosmic chaos and emotional entanglements, a woman took to the internet to vent her fury about another girl who was allegedly 'going after' her boyfriend. See also How to tell if she likes you—or if you're just overthinking it Wonder what star signs these two are, locked in battle… also Scorpio? Or maybe Gemini? Drama-rising Sagittarius? Who knows for sure… and does it even matter? Nevertheless, she's torn between rage and confusion, so she turned to the online hive mind for advice on how to deal with what she calls 'shameless and disgusting' behaviour. You can read her full complaint over here: Woman asks why some girls are 'shameless and disgusting' for going after her boyfriend
CNA
8 hours ago
- CNA
Grace Fu apologises over Tanjong Katong sinkhole; ministry to convene independent panel
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) will convene an independent panel to investigate the cause of the sinkhole that appeared along Tanjong Katong Road on Saturday (Jul 26). Speaking at the sinkhole site on Tuesday (Jul 29), Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu apologised for what she called a 'serious incident' that 'should not have happened'. 'On behalf of MSE and PUB, I would like to extend my apology, my sincere apology, to the injured driver for her injury suffered, as well as going through a harrowing experience, to the members of public as well as residents in the vicinity for causing anxiety and unease, and also to the motorists and commuters who have suffered inconveniences from the road closure and diversion,' she said. The independent panel will be made up of 'very experienced people in this area with various expertise', she said. National water agency PUB will fully cooperate with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), she added. BCA said on Monday that it will start an independent investigation into the incident. The investigation will examine the circumstances leading to the formation of the sinkhole and identify the root causes. The agency said investigations could take several months. 'I think in this case, having two teams looking at it is helping us to find out more thoroughly and systematically what are the causes of this sinkhole,' she said, adding that the investigations will be of 'similar time frame' to BCA's. Asked if the emergence of the sinkhole could be linked to a burst water pipe that occurred the night before, Ms Fu said the public can be assured that they will look at all evidence made available to them. 'We will study, and report on the findings,' she added. Responding to residents' complaints of noise from repair works through the night, Ms Fu said that it was a 'fine trade off'. 'The more we stop work at night, we may not be able to conduct the ratification work as quickly as we like,' she said. 'We'll do our very best to mitigate (the noise) to its fullest, but I hope that the residents will also understand that we want to do this quickly to stabilise the situation so that public safety is protected.' On Monday night, PUB said it was testing the stability of the ground. The shaft was backfilled to stabilise the surrounding ground, and the sinkhole was filled with liquefied stabilised soil, the national water agency said. PUB added that it was conducting "rigorous tests and scans to detect underground cavities and verify ground stability" before continuing with repair works. The agency is also conducting thorough safety assessments in consultation with BCA and the Land Transport Authority before the road is reopened to the public. The sinkhole appeared along Tanjong Katong Road South on Saturday, causing a car to fall in. It was adjacent to a PUB worksite that involved the construction of a 16m-deep shaft, the agency said on Sunday night. A concrete component in the shaft, known as a cassion ring, had failed at around 5.50pm on Saturday, PUB said. It is not clear what contributed to the failure of the component. PUB has since called for a safety time-out to review sewer works similar to the incident site. The driver of the car was rescued by migrant workers working nearby and brought to Raffles Hospital. Seven migrant workers have since been presented with a Friends of ACE coin from the Ministry of Manpower for their efforts on Sunday evening.
Independent Singapore
8 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Maid says, ‘I get irritated when my male employer wears just boxers around me; he should wear proper sleeping clothes or shorts instead'
SINGAPORE: In a refreshingly candid and hilariously uncomfortable post in the domestic helper community, one brave helper has spoken up about something many probably suffer in silence — the dangling discomfort of male bosses in boxers. 'Dear employer, I don't know if I'm the only one who has experienced this,' she began, hinting that the following confession wasn't for the faint of heart. She then dropped the bomb: 'My boss is a man and has one child. Every morning I wake them up. I get irritated when I turn on the light because my boss doesn't even wear proper shorts.' That sounds tolerable—until it wasn't. 'He always wears boxers, and I can see his private parts.' Apparently, this is not a one-time peekaboo incident. According to the post, the male employer has made a casual habit of lounging around the house in his boxers — no modesty, no coverage, and no care in the world. The helper continues, 'Sometimes he sits in the living room with his legs raised, and his private parts are out.' Cue the collective cringe. The maid ended her plea with an earnest suggestion to fellow employers: 'I just want to remind our madams here that you should make your husband wear proper shorts.' The response from the Facebook group… well, let's just say it was a mix of solidarity and comic relief. The post was flooded with 'Haha' reactions, with expressions echoing agreement. However, underneath the laughter lies a real issue: basic decency in shared domestic spaces. Helpers — mostly women — live under the same roof as their employers, and while they may be there for work, they still deserve a respectful and dignified environment. Walking around the house dressed as if you're in a men's locker room does not create a healthy professional setting for anyone. The post has sparked a broader, if still whispered, conversation: Should there be guidelines for employers on home attire, especially when domestic workers live in the same space? While there are clear Ministry of Manpower (MOM) regulations regarding wages, rest days, and accommodations, we could not find an official dress code for employers who employ a domestic helper in their homes, so perhaps it's time we at least had an unspoken rule: 'If you wouldn't wear it in front of your in-laws, don't wear it in front of your helper.' It's worth noting that the helper wasn't being malicious or trying to shame her employer. Her tone remained respectful, albeit clearly frustrated. Her post struck a chord because it highlighted a reality that many might be too embarrassed to talk about, but clearly deal with in silence. In a culture where modesty and respect often go hand in hand, this helper's plea was more than a humorous rant. It was a call for common sense, decency, and a little effort to create a less awkward, more professional home environment. So, to all the madams reading this: you may want to add 'proper shorts for your husband' to your next NTUC grocery list. Because no one should have to start their workday with someone else's anatomy as their morning greeting.
