Breaking News: Boom at Tuas Incineration Plant
On Thursday evening (Sept 23), a nasty explosion rattled the Tuas Incineration Plant, wiping out one worker and leaving two others with pretty serious injuries. The exact timeline: 4:30 PM – the bandits of destruction hit the facility (read: the plant’s authorities and the news crew took a quick look around). Police cars and at least six SCDF vehicles marked the perimeter; the smell of burnt plastic was no joke.
What We Found on the Ground
- SCDF fire engines and an ambulance fired out at 5 PM, as if they were rushing to a drama instead of a disaster.
- Two injured workers’ bodies looked blackened, with clothes shredded like soggy paper—hardly the best outfit.
- Workers in helmets and light‑blue suits huddled outside the building, like a quiet kazoo performance after the fireworks.
- Officers talked to the crowd—apparently trying to keep the chaos under control with a Shakespearean touch.
Quick Facts About the Plant
The plant, a collaborator of the NEA (National Environment Agency), sits on almost 6.3 ha of reclaimed land and cost roughly $200 million to build. With five incinerators, it can torch up to 1,400 t of waste at a time. No lean on safety! It’s one of only two refuse incinerators in Singapore, so any mishap there is a big deal.
Past Incidents & Fatalities
Recall that Feb 24 there was a previous explosion at an industrial building (32E Tuas Avenue 11) that claimed three lives. The current incident is another casualty in a series of tragic events—2021 had 27 workplace deaths (as of September), 2020 had 30, 2019 had 39 and 2018 had 41.
What’s Next?
ST has reached out to NEA, SCDF, and the Manpower Ministry for more info. Our hope: a swift and thorough investigation, and a renewed commitment to safety. News folks are all ears.
