SINGAPORE - The two workers who went missing during the construction accident at the Downtown Line (DTL) Bugis station worksite this morning have been found dead, The Straits Times reported.

The Land Transport Authority had earlier confirmed that the body of one of the missing workers had been found at the underground site.

"We will do whatever we can to assist his family during this difficult time," said the authority.

The second body was found at 12.45pm fully submerged in wet cement and pinned down by planks of wood and scaffolding.

It was found about 1m from the location of the first body.

A 4m-high scaffolding collapsed at 6.50am this morning, injuring eight other workers in addition to the two fatalities.

The Straits Times reported that the concrete and re-bars from the collapse are hindering the search for the missing worker. This is despite engineers saying that there is no structural damage.

The eight injured workers, who were working on top of the structure when it collapsed, were sent to the nearby Raffles Hospital.

Four workers have since been discharged.

According to the paper, over 50 SCDF rescuers and police officers are at the accident site with LTA employees, construction workers and two search dogs.

At about noon, an SCDF truck with a long hose attached to it pulled up in front of the underground tunnel where the accident occurred, reported the English daily. It is not yet known what the truck and hose will be used for.

PUB workers were also seen checking sewage pipes near the site while police officers were spotted carrying a body tent, which is usually deployed in cases where deaths occurred.

In a statement to the media, LTA confirmed that its engineers and personnel are mobilised on site to assist SCDF and the Police to manage the situation. 

LTA said that the area affected is localised measuring about 5m by 10m and that the entire DTL Bugis station site is about 7,500 square metres.

Stating that the DTL Bugis station structure is "substantially complete and structurally sound", LTA added that the incident "poses no risk to surrounding developments and the public".

Its engineers are checking similar scaffolding structures at all its worksites to ensure they are safe.

When contacted, SBS Transit Limited, which was appointed the operator for the DTL in 2011, directed all queries regarding the incident to the LTA.

dassa@sph.com.sg

2 dead and 8 injured in MRT construction site incident Click on thumbnail to view. (Photos: SCDF Twitter, AFP & ST)