Marina Bay Suites fire: 2 charred bodies found

UPDATE: The two victims were security officers at the condominium. They are Mr Sim Lai Huat, 58, a Singaporean, and Ms Sooria Kala Kanaseon, 34, a Malaysian, according to The Straits Times.

SINGAPORE - A unit at Marina Bay Suites caught fire on Monday night, and two charred bodies were found by Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) personnel inside the service lift on the 65th floor.

SCDF was alerted to a fire around 10pm, and saw smoke emitting from several upper floors when they arrived at the scene.

They had to force entry to the 65th floor and found that service lift lobby area serving the level was fully engulfed in flames, said SCDF in a press statement on Tuesday morning. That was where firefighters found two bodies inside the service lift opening.

The fire involved contents believed to be renovation materials, and was confined to the service corridor and lift area.

Several residents had self-evacuated prior to SCDF's arrival. A handful of residents from the 53rd floor onwards were evacuated by SCDF.

All residents were allowed to return to their units when the situation was ascertained to be safe.

natlim@sph.com.sg