5 suffer burns after explosion at Beach Road hotpot restaurant

SINGAPORE - Five people were badly hurt after an explosion at a hotpot restaurant last Saturday.

According to Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao, two women suffered third-degree burns after boiling soup splashed on their faces, and they were sent to hospital along with three others.

The accident occurred at about 3.45am on Saturday, Apr 4, at the eatery on Beach Road.

A 39-year-old victim, Miss Yu, told Lianhe Wanbao that she had been eating supper with a friend at the restautant. Two Thai women were seated at a neighbouring table.

She explained that the portable stove she was using kept emitting clicking noises and turning off, and a waiter had fixed the problem by inserting a piece of paper to prevent the stove from automatically turning off.

But just as they were leaving, the stove exploded. She felt heat rush to her face and was unable to escape before the boiling soup splashed onto her left arm.

According to Lianhe Wanbao, Miss Yu and one of the Thai women suffered third-degree burns to their faces, while Miss Yu's friend also suffered burns on half her face.

The hotpot restaurant's owner said that this was the first time such an incident has happened, and suspects that the portable stove's gas canister was faulty.

He told Wanbao that he would visit the victims in hospital and discuss compensation with them.

In a statement, the Singapore Civil Defence Force said they were alerted to the incident at around 4am.

SCDF dispatched two ambulances and one fire engine to the scene, and five female victims were conveyed to Singapore General Hospital.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

seanyap@sph.com.sg