Flames on Kusu Island: An Unexpected Firestorm
Late Sunday evening, the tranquil atmosphere above Kusu Island was shattered by a series of loud explosions and a ghostly plume of smoke that drifted over the surrounding waters. What started as a small spark at the hilltop—home to three Malay shrines—quickly turned into a blazing spectacle that drew the attention of millions.
What the Witnesses Heard
- Vitor Hong (42) camped on Lazarus Island with friends when they heard a thunderous boom. “The fire was huge,” he told reporters, noting that the smoke covered half the island.
- Nur Muhammad Khayzan Abas (41), a yacht captain, didn’t hear any explosions but detected a strong burning scent. “It turned out to be nothing with my vessel, but the sky above Kusu was black with smoke,” he explained.
Both men noted that the fire began around 6:20 pm, a time when the crowd on the island was already thinning.
Rapid Response Teams Come to the Rescue
The Police Coast Guard, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), and Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) were quick to arrive. SCDF’s approach involved:
- Deploying a Marine Rescue Vessel (MRV) and a Rapid Response Fire Vessel from Brani and West Coast Marine Fire Stations.
- Sending a firefighting crew from the Marina Bay Fire Station.
- Setting up a water‑pump system using the MRV and laying a 520‑meter hose from the island jetty right up the hill.
Within an hour, the island’s shrines—where the fire had been most intense—were extinguished with a two‑jet water burst. Heavy rain also helped douse the flames, turning the blaze from a roaring inferno into a silent ash.
Aftermath & Safety
No injuries were reported, and SCDF is still investigating the cause of the fire. The incident serves as a reminder that even on serene islands, an unexpected calamity can pop up out of nowhere!
For More Updates
The SCDF shared detailed updates on its Facebook page, documenting the whole firefighting operation without official links.
Heavy Rain Turns the Island’s Flames into a Water Park Spectacle
Picture this: a sudden downpour swoops in, turns a blinding blaze into a post‑rain splash‑down, and leaves the shrine area glowing like a damp campfire. The “little fire drama” that almost scorch‑ed the Kusu Island shrines got tamed thanks to the natural sprinkler system—heavy rain, folks!
Meet Kusu Island: A Three‑Shrine Hangout
Managed by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), Kusu Island is the holy haven for one Vietnamese temple and three Malay shrines—no coincidence, just a cool mix of cultures.
The Year‑long Pilgrimage
- Every ninth lunar month (September‑November), thousands of devotees flood the island for the Da Bo Gong (Tua Pek Kong) Temple near the pier.
- After praying, they climb the 152‑step staircase up a randy hill—yes, 152 steps!—to salute three Malay saint‑houses.
The Shrine’s Backstory
The shrines honor a 19th‑century saint named Syed Abdul Rahman and his loved ones—his mom, Nenek Ghalib, and sister, Puteri Fatimah. Think of it as a shrine‑family reunion.
Note: This piece originally appeared in The Straits Times; the story’s rights are held by the paper.
