Fire at 80-year-old Chinatown TCM and liquor shop sends 2 to hospital, forces 40 to evacuate

On November 11, a fire erupted at an 80-year-old traditional Chinese medicine and liquor shop in Singapore's Chinatown, resulting in two individuals being rushed to the hospital and around 40 residents being evacuated. The establishment, which also sold seafood and herbal medicines, was engulfed in thick smoke that permeated the surrounding areas. Upon the arrival of reporters, emergency services, including at least four police vehicles and two fire engines, were already present at the scene.

A female employee from a hardware store who was in the vicinity recounted her shock upon witnessing the thick smoke emanating from the shop. She observed the shop owner being assisted by his family, with his face smeared with ash. Another employee from a nearby hair salon revealed that the female shop owner had borrowed a fire extinguisher from their establishment. Although some staff from the salon attempted to contain the blaze, their efforts proved futile.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) disclosed that the fire primarily affected items stored in a room located on the ground floor of the building. Firefighters managed to enter the premises and extinguish the flames using a water hose. Police officers subsequently conducted an evacuation of approximately 40 people from the vicinity. The origin of the fire is still under investigation.

Simultaneously, another incident was reported in Aljunied, involving a tutoring center. Witnesses had noticed smoke billowing from the building, prompting emergency services to be dispatched. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a locked door, which temporarily delayed their access to the unit.