Migrant Workers and Medical Teams Hailed for Critical Roles After River Valley Fire
Singapore, May 12 — The tragic fire at a three-storey shophouse along Singapore’s River Valley Road on April 8 could have resulted in far greater casualties if not for the prompt actions of public members and migrant workers, according to a report by Channel News Asia on Monday.Among those injured in the incident was seven-year-old Mark Shankar, son of Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. The blaze, which broke out in a building where classes for children were being held, left 16 children aged between 6 and 10, and six adults aged 23 to 55, injured. Sadly, a 10-year-old Australian girl succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.
Quick Action Amid Chaos
Dr Fua Tzay-Ping from the Singapore General Hospital’s Emergency Medicine Department credited the swift response by the public and nearby migrant workers for preventing further loss of life. "If not for the public and migrant workers, I think we would probably have more casualties," she said.Dr Fua recounted how victims arrived at the hospital in waves, initially focusing solely on clinical care. However, the emotional toll set in later, especially after viewing viral videos of the fire. “Caring for the surge of critically ill paediatric patients was mentally challenging, as many of the staff are parents of young children,” she added.
Bystander Heroism and Rescue Efforts
Eyewitness Shaik Amirudin described the terrifying scene, with children unconscious, burned, and clinging to a narrow ledge on the second storey. Migrant workers from a nearby construction site quickly erected scaffolding to rescue the stranded children.Altogether, around 80 individuals were evacuated from the shophouse and adjacent buildings by police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
Medical Response of Unprecedented Scale
Hospitals involved in the response described the logistical and emotional challenge of treating so many young victims. Associate Professor Sashikumar Ganapathy of KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) called it his first experience handling paediatric fire casualties of such magnitude. More than nine medical departments were mobilised, including paediatric anaesthetists, ENT specialists, and plastic surgeons.“Fire-related injuries can result in serious airway damage, especially in children, making airway management a top priority,” Dr Ganapathy said.
Dr Gale Lim, head of plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery, who had previously managed mass casualties from a gas explosion, quickly assembled a team of doctors and nurses to treat the burn injuries.
Hospitals Rise to the Challenge
Nurse clinician Muqtasidatum Mustaffa noted the uncertainty faced during the emergency. "There was a lot of uncertainty. We just had to prepare our resources, prepare our manpower," she explained.The hospital’s emergency team adapted rapidly by converting areas within the critical care zone to accommodate incoming casualties. Staff readied child-specific equipment and medication dosages, while also relocating existing patients to free up space.
“It’s always good to over-prepare,” said Dr Fua, emphasising the unpredictable nature of such mass casualty incidents.
This incident, the most severe fire-related emergency involving children in Singapore in over two decades, highlighted the crucial role of public response, migrant worker bravery, and medical professionalism in mitigating a potential catastrophe.