I am a Civil Defence (CD) Volunteer
The Story – Collapse of Hotel New World on 15 March 1986
Introduction
On that sunny Saturday afternoon, I was having my favourite bowl of the famous “Sungei Road” laksa at a coffee shop off Jalan Besar. A group of men sitting on the next table was talking about a hotel had collapse at Owen Road. It was then around 1.30pm. I joined in the conversation wanting to know more about what had happened.
I am CD Trained
I said to myself. I am a trained CD Volunteer with basic knowledge of First Aid, Fire Fighting and Rescue. I decided that I should be there to help. Roads leading to the collapse hotel were all cordoned off. There was a massive traffic jam in the area. I parked my car at a nearby HDB estate and walk towards the site which is opposite the present Mustafa Centre along Serangoon Road.
When I arrived at the site, there was a large crowd of onlookers standing outside the barricaded area. I was then not properly equipped with helmet and was wearing bermuda. I was not allowed in. After standing outside the cordoned off area for an hour, I went home.
Recalled
On reaching home, my wife told me that a CD Officer had called me many times since 3.00pm (No mobile phones during that time). I called back and LTA (CD Ret) Wee Teck Kim from SCDF ‘D’ Division (now 1st Div) told me to mobilise as many volunteers as possible to help at the collapse site the following day. With only one line telephone at home, I managed to contact about 30 of my volunteers that night and told them to bring along their helmets.
Monitoring and updating the situation
That night I watch the TV and listened to the radio for updates on the situation. I saw there were already CD Volunteers there helping the professional fire fighters, SCDF personnel and the Police.
Helping out the disaster site
At 7.30am the following morning (Sunday, 16 March 1986), I arrived at the collapse site. This time, I was fully prepared wearing the CD Volunteer Orange and White T-Shirt with Orange helmet issued to us. I met CPT (Ret) Wong Kum Kay, my army colleague. He had been seconded to SCDF to command the 1st Rescue Battalion.
I was assigned to help to carry and clear stone debris to the lorries and dump trucks. Being a Combat Engineer Officer, carrying of heavy loads was not new to me. I also helped to operate the field plants provided by the SAF.
Actual hardcore tasks such as rescue work was too delicate for volunteers and this operation had to be carried out by the professionals and specialists.
Defining moments
Noticing the anxiousness of relatives of those trapped victims who were still not recovered, all of us worked very hard. By late morning, more than 100 CD Volunteers from the different constituencies were present. Most of them came from the nearby Moulmein, Cairnhill and Jalan Baser Constituencies. We were able to work hand in hand with the professional SCDF rescuers.
The Authority also set up a relief centre manned by professional and CD Volunteers at a nearby Savoy Coffee Shop where anxious relatives and friends can rest.
Lessons learnt
From this hotel collapse, many lessons were learnt.
• The collapse was a real life test for CD Volunteers and all Singaporeans
• CD Volunteers are needed to organise and provide service support facilities eg food and drinks to the rescuers. Carry out basic first and medical assistance
• Each CD Constituency must have an effective mobilisation recall system
• CD Volunteers who were at the site gained valuable experienced and enable them to know more about rescue operations
• It had brought Singaporeans of all races and religions together in one committed response
• To be resilience, Singaporeans must be prepared and come forward during a crisis
• We need to fortified a sense of unity among the communities and do what we can to help others
Conclusion
I stayed at the site for 2 days (15 & 16 March 1986). I had to be back in camp for a scheduled exercise on 17 March.
When I returned home, I was dead tired. That night before I slept, I recalled what I have done for the last two days. My effort was not wasted. I had an opportunty to save lives.
Till today, I am proud to be a trained CD Volunteer.
