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Pasir Ris park (Nature, Environment)

Campsite, for people to enjoy being closer to nature

Mangrove trees, to raise awareness on various wildlife and to let people unwind as they learn to appreciate nature, also providing educational opportunities for students to learn about the environment

- provides shade and reduces the amount of direct sunlight that reaches the surface. Cools the surroundings through evapotranspiration

- during photosynthesis, the mangrove trees take in carbon dioxide and gives out oxygen -> humans have fresher air to take in

- provide space for recreation so that residents have more opportunities for outdoor activities and help bring about health and wellbeing benefits

Cycling, encourages a healthy lifestyle as they breeze through the nature

Enhances mental wellbeing as residents are able to be away from the hustle and bustle of life

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Tampines Hub has many local businesses and shops which are able to sustain as there is high population density in Tampines. There is sufficient demand for the goods of these local businesses. Residents can also take up employment at these shops, earn income and increase their standard of living. When more people are employed they can pay taxes to the government, improving singapores economy

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Sengkang towns are planned with a comprehensive range of facilities to meet the needs of current and future residents. These include housing, shops, schools, libraries, sports facilities, community clubs and parks – all important in ensuring a liveable, self-sufficient town. The facilities are carefully distributed across each town to ensure good accessibility, supported by an efficient transport network, like the LRT. The easily accessible amenities and good transport network reduces costs and travel times, improving sengkangs economy

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environmental sustainability: community garden facilitates (kebun bahru view community garden @ block 117)

it is a 24 hour garden that is located near residential areas

it increases the residents appreciation for nature and they will be more inclined to take care of the environment

promotes a healthy lifestyle when participants come together to visit the garden

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Many HDB blocks in Sengkang among the 1075 that are to be fitted with solar panels by 2026. With the power to light 28250 4 room flats, this move will greatly increase the amount of green energy in Sengkang and reduce use of non renewable energy by residents.

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Solar panels to be installed at 1,075 HDB blocks in largest tender under green push

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They will be installed at blocks under the Aljunied-Hougang, Nee Soon and Sengkang town councils by the third quarter of 2026. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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This recycling bin allows residents to recycle their unwanted and used textiles. Poor-conditioned closthes are restored and sorted into various categories to extend the life of clothing. These items are then re-circulated in different ways depending on its condtion. This reduces the waste made by fast fashion by keeping it circulated within the community.

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the sengkang LRT system allows residents to conveniently get to different parts of sengkang without having to walk too far. LRT stations are usually set up near housing areas or next to shopping malls for easy access and to keep the transport infrastructure development cost low, allowing transport costs for residents to be reduced. since there are different amenities nearby the stations, residents can just walk from the station to their desired location instead of having to take a different mode of transport. overall, the sengkang LRT system helps to lower the cost of transportation for residents, allowing the neighbourhood to be sustainable.

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a place where many people can carry out sports activities or just to rest and relax in a place full of nature

the nature is able to help the environment as the plants is able to absorb pollutants and provide fresher air

the many plants and trees around the area can also serve as habitats for certain animals, preserving nature in the process

the better quality of air in the parks allows for people to carry out their activities more comfortably, improving their physical and mental well-being

a place where families can spend time and bond with one another

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Social Sustainability

Tampines Hub is a community centre with many facilities like the social service office that provides forms of assistance such as job matching and family services. These facilities allow residents living around the area to have a shared area to foster a sense of shared identity through social interactions, and get the help that they need.

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a volunteer program at Sengkang community hospital. Volunteers will facilitate various activities and engage patients. This helps residents feel a sense of place and allows them to have social interaction in their community. The patients and volunteers have a shared sense of interaction. Residents feel included when participating in these activities.

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-many people can set up stores and sell the food they cook

-residents often spend their time and money there to buy food as it is in the neighbourhood and is easily accessed by the residents

the hawker center provides employment for residents in that area, allowing for convenient jobs for the residents of Pasir Ris that they can earn income from and support themselves, increasing their standard of living. the hawker center is also located near to the residential areas, which increases the demand for its goods.

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Economic Sustainability:

The Food Centre:

near residential area so residents can easily go and buy food from there and the stall owners will be able to earn more money from them and it is advantageous to them

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social sustainability: kebun bahru bird singing club (block 159 ang mo kio avenu 5)

it is the largest bird singing and display arena in the country

people with similar interest can come here and foster a stronger communal bond

open to not just bird lovers but also casual visitors and tourists

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Kebun baru food centre

Businesses earn money from residents who buy their food.

Residents around -> people can go there conveniently and do not need to spend money on transport to get there.

That place give people job opportunities

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Having shared community spaces – where community activities/ meetings are organised.

The dog pool in Kovan allows pet owners to bring their dog to the pool. Different dogs will be able to socialise with dog from other owners. This could lead to the dog owners making friends with each other as well. Through a common interest, friendships can be forged, contributing to social sustainability

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ref: Samantha went there, eva's dad disappeared there and got kicked out of the house for smelling like durian 🥲

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The Pasir Ris Elias Community Club frequently holds events where residents are able to come together and celebrate holidays. One example of such is during the durian season, they host durian eating gathering, called Durian Raya. During this event, residents can socialize over durian eating, and build stronger bonds as a community! This promotes an inclusive environment and builds the residents' shared sense of identity.

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tampines changkat butterfly garden

The garden is open to the public. It educates people on the different types of butterflies and what they feed on. This encourages environmental protection as people will be more knowledgable about what environment they thrive in. Admission is free so it is place for families and friends to rest and relax and improve their overall well-being. It is located in the middle of HDB estates, thus people do not need to travel far to go there. Sometimes, butterflies in the garden will be released to the wild to promote biodiversity in Singapore.

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in kovan, HDBs are located near shopping centres/hawker centres/shops, so more residents will pay for the services. nearby services also increase population density (more convenient!).

this will benefit the storeowners and workers as they are able to sustain themselves and their families, earning income and increasing standards of living.

it is more convenient for the residents to report to work/find nearby job opportunities and employment, reducing travel time and costs.

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Kebun Bahru Community Centre has various facilities for residents, such as lounge areas, a basketball court, rooftop barbeque pits and more. This creates an environment for everyone, be it for sports, outdoor gatherings or even small chats in the longue areas. This allows residents to better bond, and get to know each other better. It facilitates an inclusive neighbourhood, and increases residents' sense of belonging to the neighbourhood. Having shared community spaces provides a venue for different activities to take place.

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promotes healthy lifestyle as there are fitness equipment there

there are many trees there which helps with air pollution

there are 2 paths along the park that allows people to jog, walk or cycle

the playground encourages children to go out with their friends instead of watching their tv's, laptop and handphone

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Our Tampines Hub

There is a hawker centre and other facilities Our Tampines Hub, which would be located close to resident's home, making it convenient for residents to fufill their daily needs

The stalls in the hub earn more money as there is a high population density, so residents would come for their services/goods

There are also many transport infrastructure near OTH like bus stops and bus interchanges which keeps the transport costs low, with the facilities being close to the residents' home

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A sports hub that promotes regular social interactions

create a sense of identity for people through meeting weekly, monthly sport meets while at the same time honing their sport skills

Sport facilities engages people from all walks of life and is inclusive, including people with disability.

Gives them a common area to form bonds and relationship allows them to feel a sense of belonging meeting others in the neighbourhood through sports

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Lounge for members of the sports club to hold gatherings such as conferences, parties and activities

A shared community space for people to engage in health & fitness programmes and sports & social events together, allowing them to bond over their common interest in sports and forge meaningful friendships

While competing in inter-house tournaments, team members may develop a sense of shared identity through cooperating together as a team.

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Environmental sustainability

Green roof at Kovan residences

Plants and wildlife in parks

Economic sustainability

Xing Hua Primary school is located near the Kovan Integrated Transport Hub. This gives students the option of walking to their school from the MRT station, minimising their transport costs.

Heartland Mall supports local businesses who can benefit from consumers who demand their products

Jobs are provided near residents homes so they can travel conveniently to their work places.

Social sustainability

community clubs where community activities are organised.

FORTE BOWL, where residents can come together with other people with shared interests and form a sense of shared identity.

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Kovan MRT and Heartland Mall

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Green roof at Kovan Residences

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the picture shows residents celebrating national day together at the sengkang community centre. this fosters positive relationships between the residents as more social interactions are promoted. having frequent meet ups allow the residents to maintain a culture of open communication, mutual respect and understanding.

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Sengkang Riverside Park is home to both Sengkang Floating Wetland and Sengkang Riverside. It houses much flora and fauna such as fruit trees (more than 20 native types, etc longan, white dragonfruit tree) and birds etc (dragonflies). Where there is concentrated protection for nature, wildlife can thrive in out urban spaces and human wildlife coexistence can be fostered.

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Bedok Reservoir Park:

A place where different individuals from different neighbourhoods (apart from Tampines) can bond through activities like exercise, fishing, bird-watching, etc. Near to nature and allows residents to build appreciation for it.

Some features are:

1) Jogging and walking track

-Allows for people to have a scenic view of the reservoir itself, allows people to appreciate and feel closer to nature. Promotes exercise which can help people to build fitness and relieve stress, improving both physical and mental well-being. Families and friends can also go to the park to bond together through exercise, also improving social well-being.

2) Allotment garden

-For those who are keen on gardening, they can plant herbs, vegetables, ornamental plants, etc. This benefits the environment and raises awareness among different people on nature, causing them to appreciate it more and become more keen on contributing to its upkeep

3) Bird watching

-Fosters awareness on different types of birds. Residents might also be able to spot other forms of wildlife, builds appreciation for nature. Wildlife enthusiasts can bond with like-minded individuals based on shared interests, fostering healthy bonds and improving social well-being.

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Connected to Pasir Ris MRT, on the EastWestline

Bus interchange, provides transportation for residents

Many businesses and shops, provides amenities for residents as well as job opportunities

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in an urban neighbourhood, the presence of green spaces can provide many cultural ecosystem services. in this case, services such as aesthetic appreciation and opportunities to play and destress are offered.

in the playground, people are able to participate in recreational activities, such as running around and playing with their peers. these activities can improve their physical and mental health and foster social belonging and group identity within the kovan community, thus strengthening their sense of place.

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The trees in the park, help provide shade as well as lower surface and air temperature.

The trees and other plants in the park play an important role in regulating air quality by removing pollutants from the atmosphere

The residents living near the park as well as the users benefit from the regulation of various ecosystem processes which include climate regulation, diseases etc

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cultural ecosystem service - sengkang riverside park walking trails

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cultural ecosystem service - sengkang riverside park walking trails

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a place where residents can take leisurely walks and enjoy the greenery

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eg: tampines eco green

regulating:

in tampines eco green, it is a park where flora and fauna can be observed at every turn. there have been many squirrels, butterflies and many different and rare species of birds can be watched. this allows these people to relax while doing the bird watching.

cultural:

hiking trails, allow all kinds of groups of people to release stress and exercise. they can also bond and foster close relationships with their friends and family. and forge a strong group identity, also an opportunity to educate friends about history of the park.

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Sengkang General Hospital provides treatments for the prevention and management of infectious diseases, including helping patients with immunocompromising diseases. they have a very extensive team who help to manage various complex infections and provide consultative care for patients with challenging problems in the diagnosis, management and therapy of various infectious diseases.

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The Infectious Disease services at Sengkang General Hospital is dedicated in providing quality clinical care, prevention, treatment and management of infectious diseases. We offer inpatient and outpatient clinical services related to the care of patients with a wide range of infectious diseases, including patients with underlying immunocompromising conditions. We strive to provide care that is comprehensive and timely with early and well-coordinated transition to outpatient care.

The team includes infectious disease physicians, nurses, pharmacists and patient service associates, working together with other clinicians, microbiologists, infection preventionists, hospital epidemiologists and other healthcare professionals. We are well-equipped to manage various infections ranging in complexity and provide consultative care for patients with particularly challenging problems in the diagnosis, management and therapy of various infectious diseases.

We are committed in working together with other physicians in the community to improve the overall population's health care and quality of life by enhancing the application of its patient care delivery. Along with diagnosing and treating a wide array of infections and infectious disease, our team of specialists will go through great lengths to prevent infections long before they occur. This is done through physician education, antibiotic stewardship, vaccinations and purposeful health education in the community, which our team of medical staff are also involved in. Through our antibiotic stewardship programme, we play an important role in improving antibiotic prescription to effectively treat infections, protect our patients from unnecessary antibiotic usage and halt the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Our team is also instrumental in contributing to our hospital and national infectious disease outbreak response. We are also actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.

In addition, our team of physicians are involved in a variety of clinical research activities related to the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, closely collaborating with various research partners from the hospital and from other institutions.

Our Infectious Disease Clinical Services

Our team of specialists offer extensive and compassionate care to diagnose and manage both common and complex diseases, including and not limited to:

Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT)

The Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) service at the hospital offers patients administration of intravenous and intramuscular antibiotics to patients in the outpatient setting.

General Infectious Diseases including management of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO)

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Infectious in the immunocompromised host

Travel related infections

Fever of unknown origin includign diagnosis of non-infectious causes

Our Infectious Disease Clinic

The Infectious Disease and Outpatient Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) Clinic is located on Level 2 of the Medical Centre.

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Sengkang General Hospital's Infectious Disease Department offers patient-centered, and comprehensive care for patients with a wide array of infectious diseases.

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pasir ris park has plants and trees that play an important role in regulating the air quality though photosynthesis. during photosynthesis, vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide and other air pollutants and releases oxygen. small particles are intercepted by leave, which are washed to the ground when it rains. wetland plants can trap suspended materials and absorb excess nutrients in the water. thus improving air quality for humans. therefore, being a regulating ecosystem service.

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Cultural Ecosystem services located in Sengkang

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Cultural Ecosystem services located in Sengkang

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Sengkang Riverside Park is an example of a cultural ecosystem where there is a presence of green spaces that can provide educational and recreational spaces to relive stress. This can both increase mental and physical health and foster sense of belonging and identity, strengthening their sense of place.

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Government agencies communicate via .gov.sg websites (e.g. go.gov.sg/open). Trusted websites

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This is a bird singing park. This a cultural ecosystem service. It is a recreational activity, where elderly or bird owners can bring their bird(s) here and observe them. Bird lovers can also come here and enjoy the wonderful singing of the many different types of birds.

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This is a community garden in Kebun Bahru. This is a provisional ecosystem as residents can grow their own crops and harvest the fruits and vegetables, which provides them with a source of food.

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Foliage in the park regulate air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and other pollutants and produce oxygen in the air while going through photosynthesis to make food. Trees specifically lower surface runoff as their roots in the ground allow water to enter it and reduce danger to others. Leaves of plants provide shade for tired residents and lower the temperature.

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Fire hazards

a) fires in neighbourhoods are commonly caused by faulty electrical appliances and wiring, and unattended cooking fires

b) negative consequences of fires include burn injuries, smoke inhalation and property damage

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Six people were rescued and 100 residents were evacuated after a fire broke out in a unit at Block 19 Punggol Field Walk on Saturday (Dec 19).

Of the six people that were evacuated, five of them were taken to Singapore General Hospital.

Stomper Mike, Ben, Ong and Yoges shared photos and videos that show the unit being engulfed in flames and black smoke surrounding the affected block.

In the video, a resident in the unit adjacent to the fire can be seen using a hose in an attempt to douse the fire.

Residents can also be seen gathering around the pool at the foot of the block as policemen cordon off the area using police tape.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a post on Facebook that they were alerted to the fire at 11.25am.

[Fire @ Blk 19 Punggol Field Walk] Earlier today at about 11.25 am, SCDF was alerted to a fire at Blk 19 Punggol Field...

Posted by Singapore Civil Defence Force on Friday, December 18, 2020

According to the post, the fire involved the contents of a bedroom in a two-story unit on the 16th floor.

"Upon arrival, SCDF firefighters wearing breathing apparatus sets had to conduct forced entry into the smoke-logged unit. The fire was raging and had fully engulfed the bedroom," SCDF wrote.

"Firefighters from Sengkang Fire Station extinguished the fire using one water jet and rescued six occupants from the affected unit."

SCDF added that one person was found in the kitchen while two people were rescued from a bedroom on the upper floor of the unit, directly above the bedroom on fire.

Three others were rescued from the ledge outside the toilet on the upper floor and were quickly brought in to safety through the toilet window.

"Five of the six occupants were taken to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation with one person refusing conveyance to the hospital," said SCDF.

"Patients who suffered smoke inhalation or serious burn injuries but are in stable condition, will be conveyed to Singapore General Hospital's specialised Burn Centre instead of the nearest hospital."

About 100 residents from the affected block were also evacuated by the security officers as a precautionary measure.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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100 evacuated, 6 rescued and 5 taken to hospital after 'raging' fire in Punggol Field Walk unit

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Six people were rescued and 100 residents were evacuated after a fire broke out in a unit at Block 19 Punggol Field Walk on Saturday (Dec 19). Read more at stomp.straitstimes.com

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traffic accidents

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Fatal road accidents up in 2023; Traffic Police to raise demerit points for some offences

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Statistics show many motorists "have irresponsible driving behaviours", said the TP. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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SINGAPORE: A fire in an Ang Mo Kio flat that took the life of a 49-year-old woman originated from lithium-ion cells in battery packs that were left to charge on top of an illegally modified personal mobility device (PMD), a coroner's court has found.

The PMD had been purchased on Carousell by the woman's son the night before the fire that consumed the cluttered contents of the flat.

In a written set of findings made available on Monday (Jul 31), State Coroner Adam Nakhoda ruled the death of Madam Tay Choon Hwee a misadventure.

She had died of smoke inhalation, after being taken to hospital in an unresponsive state on the morning of Mar 5, 2021.

He said this case was "a timely reminder of the inherent dangers posed by modified PMDs" and advised users not to buy such devices or modify stock PMDs.

Users should also only charge their devices with the chargers that come with them, he said.

WHAT HAPPENED

The court heard that Mdm Tay lived in a flat in Ang Mo Kio with her son, named in the findings only as "Mr Ching".

In early March 2021, Mr Ching saw a PMD listed for sale on Carousell for S$1,500 by a Mr Muhammad Shahrul Abdul Razak.

Mr Shahrul testified that he had obtained the PMD by trading a previous device for it on Carousell. He said his wife told him to buy a smaller one that was "not dangerous", so he listed it for sale.

Mr Shahrul claimed that when he negotiated with Mr Ching over the sale, he had told Mr Ching that the device was not compliant with Land Transport Authority regulations.

They met on the night of Mar 4, 2021, for the transaction. Mr Shahrul gave Mr Ching two 36-volt lithium-ion battery packs but no battery charger. Mr Ching tested the PMD before riding it home.

The PMD was too large to fit into the lift at his Housing Board block initially, and Mr Ching was seen on police camera footage adjusting it.

At about 2am on Mar 5, 2021, he used his own charger to charge the battery packs and monitored it for two hours.

When there were no issues, he joined his mother in their bedroom to sleep at about 4am and left the battery packs charging.

His mother woke him up at about 5am to 6am saying she heard loud noises that sounded like explosions.

They opened the bedroom door and saw a fire around the PMD, with the lithium-ion battery cells "popping", the court heard.

Mr Ching went to the kitchen toilet to get water to extinguish the fire with, but he soon saw thick black smoke entering the kitchen area.

He closed the toilet door, opened the window for fresh air and shouted for help.

A member of the public had called the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) for help at about 6.10am, and firefighters arrived to see black smoke coming from the unit.

They put out the fire, noting that the living room was full of hoarded items, and found Mr Ching conscious in the toilet.

They found Mdm Tay lying passed out on the floor of the bedroom, which was "heavily smoke logged", with some items on top of her, the coroner said.

SCDF'S REPORT

SCDF's fire investigation report concluded that the fire damage was consistent with a fire that originated from the battery packs that had been left to charge on the seat of the PMD.

SCDF said an electrical anomaly had likely occurred within the battery packs while they were being charged, leading to thermal runaway.

This is an instability that occurs when heat generation exceeds heat loss within a material, and this leads to a self-sustained smouldering or burning.

"The heat from the thermal runaway most likely caused the lithium-ion battery cells to ignite and some may have been dispersed in all directions, including onto the combustible items that were stored and cluttered in the unit's living room. This would have contributed to the fire spreading in the living room," read SCDF's report.

SCDF added that Mr Ching's battery charger, from his previous PMD, could possibly have been incompatible with the newly bought PMD and its battery packs, resulting in a catastrophic failure of the lithium-ion battery cells.

The coroner said the PMD had been modified such that it was no longer certified for use in Singapore.

He said there was no foul play involved in Mdm Tay's death.

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Fatal fire in Ang Mo Kio flat sparked by modified PMD batteries left to charge: Coroner

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The fire that broke out in the morning of Mar 5, 2021 took the life of a woman whose son had bought a modified personal mobility device online.

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electrical fires

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In Singapore, where our homes symbolise safety and comfort, a silent threat is on the rise - electrical fires.

In 2022, electrical fires emerged as the second leading cause of domestic fires in Singapore.

Alarming as it may sound, this trend has continued.

Official data from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) revealed an 18.8 per cent jump - from 192 incidents in 2021 to 228 in 2022.

And the culprits?

According to Kelvin Toh, a specialist from Hager Singapore, they are often everyday household components we don't notice - faulty wiring, unassuming malfunctioning appliances, and worn-out sockets bearing burdens they weren't meant to withstand.

So, what can we do to protect our homes?

Sleeping siren in every home: DB box

At an unnoticeable corner of our homes sits an essential but often neglected component: the DB box, also known as the electrical or circuit breaker box.

When was the last time you checked your DB box?

Many homeowners only approach this metal or plastic box when there's an issue, like tripping, and rarely do regular checks.

Toh cautioned that such neglect can be worrisome, especially for homes older than a decade.

While a seasoned DB box might look fine on the outside and even perform without any noticeable issues, its protective capability and sensitivity could be declining without homeowners realising it.

Cumulative wear and tear, coupled with the increasing reliance on a multitude of electrical appliances, might constitute and escalate potential electrical complications.

What should we do?

It is recommended that homeowners conduct regular checks and tests on the DB box and, if necessary, replace it to enhance home safety.

Should you be considering replacing your DB box, a great option would be to use one from Hager.

In its 30 years serving Singapore, Hager has been offering electrical products that are reliable, safe and built to last.

Opting for Hager products means arming your home with a more robust defence against electrical risks.

Guardians of electrical safety: MCBs and RCCBs

Within the DB box, there are two other electrical components in our home that are rarely noticed - Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs) and Residual Current Circuit Breakers (RCCBs).

RCCBs work as our home's safety guards. They watch out for any earth faults or leakage currents from malfunctioning electrical appliances or lighting circuitries.

At the first sign of abnormal leakage, they act by cutting off the power to safeguard personal safety and home protection.

Meanwhile, MCBs are like our home's traffic controllers.

The MCB has a current rating that denotes the maximum amount of current and is designed to disconnect the circuit when a faulty condition, like overcurrent, occurs.

Toh emphasised the importance of using RCCBs and MCBs that are proven to be reliable and can handle situations with precision, such as those from Hager, which have been rigorously tested in laboratories and in the real world.

Hager: Safeguarding your home, "Safe & Simple"

Safety begins at home.

Founded in Germany in 1926, Hager combines German quality with French technology.

Beyond equipping homeowners with reliable electrical solutions, Hager aspires to empower individuals with the assurance that every home in Singapore is safe and sound.

Now, as Hager marks its 30th anniversary in Singapore, it is taking its dedication to home safety a step further.

The "Safe & Simple Roadshow" will be to reinforce Hager's commitment to reliability and durability and their unwavering effort to give back to society.

From Nov. 6 to 12 at VivoCity, the roadshow will go beyond showcasing products.

It's a hearty invitation to an enlightening experience centred on the heart of every Singaporean home.

Participants will find out why replacing ageing DB boxes is pivotal and have hands-on experiences with Hager products to feel their durability and reliability first-hand.

With the guidance of Hager experts, homeowners can delve deeper into electrical safety and discover simple ways to ensure a safer living space. Discover more .
Hager Safe & Simple Roadshow
Date: Nov. 6 to 12, 2023

Location: VivoCity, Ground level - Central Court (beside Dyson),

Time: 10am to 10pm

This sponsored article by Hager Singapore enabled the writer to have a safer home.
Cover photo courtesy of SCDF/Facebook and Hager Singapore

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Growing trend of residential electrical fires in S'pore: Is there anything we can do to protect our homes?

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-monkeys

-otters

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Singapore authorities have an unusual source of mayhem on their hands: an exploding otter population.

Amid an upswing in interactions between the buoyant, hand-holding mammals and humans in recent months, the National Parks Board, known as NParks, is working to relocate the island's 170 otters away from residential areas and otter-proof people's homes.

Singapore's smooth-coated otter population has more than doubled since 2019, with roughly 17 families fishing for tilapia in waterways, sleeping under bridges and ravaging private fish ponds - and on rare occasions attacking people in public parks.

"They're not afraid, and the bolder families just walk right past us," said N Sivasothi, a senior lecturer in biological sciences at the National University of Singapore. "There isn't a place in Singapore where you'd be completely isolated from otters."

In 2020, NParks received 208 citizen reports about otters, followed by 305 in 2021, and more than 300 as of this August. Although most reports are sightings, otters have been known to lash out when threatened.

Last week, Sivasothi and the Otter Working Group, made up of NParks, wildlife experts and citizen otter watchers, completed the island's first relocation at an estate in the city's Seletar area.

The nearly weeklong mission involved luring six otters from the hidey-hole they had dug up under a pedestrian walkway and moving them to an undisclosed location with natural food sources.

A pair of smooth-coated otters mate aggressively at Singapore's Kallang Riverside Park. Photograph: Suhaimi Abdullah/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock

Smooth-coated otters climb a wall at the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. Photograph: Suhaimi Abdullah/NurPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock

The otters had been visiting the estate for months to snatch fish from its ponds, at one point raiding 10 homes in one night, Sivasothi said. Then the family had pups and took up permanent residency near a busy roadway, a potential hazard for the otters and people alike.

Tan Kiat How, Singapore's senior minister of state for national development and communications and information, wrote on Facebook the operation went "smoothly" and called on Singaporeans to avoid approaching or feeding the animals. The working group was also helping estate managers patch up fences, fill otter holts and remove attractants such as koi, he said.

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Graham Spencer was attacked by otters at the Singapore Botanical Gardens. Photograph: Joseph Campbell/Reuters

"Living in our city in nature means we coexist with wildlife like otters and get to observe them in our midst," he said. "As we enjoy the benefits of this, we also understand residents' concerns regarding incursions into their properties."

A family of wild smooth-coated otters are spotted next to Singapore's tourism icon, the Merlion. Photograph: Xinhua/Rex/Shutterstock

The otter population has been rebounding since the 1980s when Singapore started cleaning up its waterways. Their numbers are rising partially because otters face no significant danger from other predators and only encounter crocodiles in a wetlands mangrove in the city's north-west.

Fish populations have also increased as waterways have become less polluted and provided plentiful food. Now otters are an increasingly common presence on urban streets as they claim more territory for themselves. On occasion, that presence can become menacing. Last year, a British man living in Singapore said he "thought he was going to die" when a pack of otters chased him in the Botanic Gardens, pinned him to the ground and bit him 26 times in a matter of seconds. Months earlier, a 77-year-old man was bitten on the leg during his morning exercise near the Kallang River.

Other episodes of human-otter interaction have been less severe. A condominium tower in the River Valley area received a visit in which otters took koi and frolicked in the pool, while a church reported that nearly 100 fish had been eaten in a similar incident. "The pastor simply joked that we have less koi now," one Facebook user said. "I joked that the otter should go to the otter (altar) and confess on Sunday service."

Aside from eating koi - which can be expensive, costing one homeowner $64,000 - they have been known to stop traffic.

Local "ottergraphers" are dedicated to capturing sightings on popular social media pages. NParks advises people to keep a safe distance and refrain from touching or cornering the animals, especially when there are pups around.

"We are facing something unparalleled," Sivasothi said. "Initially it was just urban otters utilising spaces in Singapore, and then as the population grew and competition forced them into the urban matrix, we're now having to adapt."

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Slippery, hungry, sometimes angry: Singapore struggles with 'unparalleled' otter boom

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Numbers have doubled, with occasional attacks on humans and fish ponds prompting relocation efforts

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COMMENTARY: "The level of anxiety of the neighbours waxes and wanes, depending on the frequency of hoarding related fires that appear in the news. This makes it difficult for them to relax and enjoy their homes."

Our contributorAbel Ang shares his thoughts on the issue of hoarding in HDB flats and how neighbours of hoarders live in a state of constant anxiety, and asks whether more can be done for their peace of mind.

Every apartment estate has someone like that. An individual, or family, which picks over the garbage bins in search of items to be salvaged. The salvaged items are collected and brought into homes already stuffed full of junk.

Link between hoarding and mental illness

According to a Singapore Medical Journal ( SMJ) article by Ng Beng Yeong, a consultant psychiatrist at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, and his team, "hoarding refers to an excessive acquisition of objects and inability to part with apparently valueless possessions."

The article explains that hoarding can be a byproduct of psychiatric disorders, like obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, or dementia, and the list is not exhaustive. The range of possible mental health root causes makes hoarding challenging to treat.

Although there is a link between hoarding and mental illness, not all hoarding behaviour is due to mental illness. To make matters worse, hoarders are unlikely to seek help because they probably do not see their hoarding behaviour as a problem, the SMJ article adds.

The hoarding issue is highly relevant given a recent spate of fires in Housing Development Board (HDB) flats of suspected hoarders.

Hoarding fires and size of the problem

An Aljunied flat fire in the middle of August was sparked by an unattended candle and spread across the flat, leading to 13 residents being evacuated from units in the vicinity.

In the aftermath of the incident, the flat was found to be stuffed full of bags and clothes reaching up to the windows. There were many spare home appliances, such as radio and fans, and stacks of newspapers.

According to media reports, in the clean-up after the fire, 14 large rubbish bins were filled and loaded with burnt items from the flat!

Neighbours who helped clear the burnt debris in the charred flat said it was infested with cockroaches.

Earlier in that same week, a blaze in a Jurong East flat claimed its resident's life. While the fire was put out by firefighters, it rekindled the next day, reignited by deep-seated embers in the rubble.

Kumar, a neighbour who spoke to , said the unit's residents would collect plastic bottles, cans, shoes, and old clothes, piled up in plastic bags. The stench from the unit was described as smelling like "rotten food" and "really suffocating."

Living next to a hoarding neighbour had been torture for Kumar. He reported that he dreaded going home because of the hoarded items in the common corridor, and the stench emanating from the apartment. He has been unable to sell his unit because of his neighbours.

Kumar had apparently made numerous attempts, even sending close to a hundred e-mails to the authorities, to get help for his neighbours over the years. He felt that not enough had been done to make sure that the hoarding would stop.

The unfortunate hoarding fire in Jurong East was so large that it spread beyond the flat, building up into a wall of fire so high that it licked the ceiling outside the unit.

In the aftermath of the rekindled fire in Jurong East, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) announced that it is re-evaluating its measures required for fires involving clutter in homes.

Beyond rekindling of fires, perhaps there is opportunity for the SCDF to review how it is dealing with the hoarding issue as a whole - especially as it relates to fire safety.

Ng writes in SMJ that since "over 80 per cent of Singapore's resident population lives in dense public housing, both the individual and the community could face loss of life and property due to the fire risk created by hoarding."

His article also points out that roughly two out of every hundred people in Singapore will display hoarding symptoms.

With a population size of 5.8 million people, that works out to more than 100,000 hoarders across the whole of Singapore, many of whom live in dense public housing. The risks of loss of life and property are real, as we have seen from the multiple hoarding-related fires in August.

Living with a hoarder

I too live in a Housing Board estate with a resident hoarder. She roams the floors of our blocks every night between 1am to 5am, while the estate is asleep, looking for discarded items left in the common corridor by neighbours.

During those hours, she can be found rummaging through the garbage and recycling cans in the neighbourhood, looking for salvageable items. She is usually unkempt and disheveled in appearance with unwashed hair tied up above the head.

She is generally not a nuisance and mostly keeps to herself. She avoids any form of contact with neighbours, and will leave the elevator when you step in. Her apartment smells, because of the years of trash that has accumulated in it.

Some neighbours have tried to help her, but I understand that any form of help has been declined.

She does sell items to the rag and bone man from time to time, which seems to be her main source of income.

Her immediate neighbours are at their wits' end, living in constant risk of the potential fire safety and public health consequences which stem from being in the vicinity of acute hoarding.

The level of anxiety of the neighbours waxes and wanes, depending on the frequency of hoarding related fires that appear in the news. This makes it difficult for them to relax and enjoy their homes.

What can be done?

The solution to the issue is not an easy one. As the Ministry of National Development (MND) outlined in its response to Member of Parliament Liang Eng Hwa's question on hoarding: "The process to fully resolve a hoarding issue can be long-drawn and is highly dependent on the hoarder's willingness and ability to change his or her behavior."

MND also added that a Hoarding Management Framework has been developed which "guides officers across agencies in providing coordinated support to address the hoarding issue."

In the aftermath of the recent fires, Liang told ST that "the state of hoarding in some of the HDB flats remains very serious." He has called for a review of current measures and asked the authorities to look into new measures to ensure fire safety.

Some questions that MND's review could consider include:

1. Should there be public consultation on the Framework, in light of how extensive the issue is in urban Singapore?

2. Is it possible to be more transparent about the Hoarding Management Framework? While there are several references to the Framework in addressing questions on how the authorities are managing the issue, the Framework itself does not appear to have been published.

3. How does the Framework benchmark against other dense cities around the world, especially metropolitan cities that have had to manage hoarders and the risks posed to the larger community?

4. How are neighbours, who have been affected by hoarding, informed about the progress that agencies are making in dealing with the hoarding issue?

5. How many people has the Framework helped in the years since it was launched?

Neighbours would benefit from more transparency

With up to 100,000 hoarders spread across our dense apartment metropolis, there are hundreds of thousands of affected neighbours who are at risk from a fire safety or even a public health perspective.

Is it possible to avoid another repeat of Kumar's torturous experience, where he sent close to a hundred emails, and continuously appealed to the authorities to intervene, over the length of a decade, only to wake up one morning to the possibility that his life "would end there"?

Lives have been lost to hoarding, as evidenced by the Jurong East fire which claimed the life of the flat's resident. In addition, more than a dozen neighbours had been put at risk and needed to be evacuated due to the fires in Aljunied and Jurong East.

Neighbours of hoarders would benefit from more transparency on how the framework is being used to address their concerns, in order to feel reassured that the issue is being properly handled.

Ultimately, everyone should have a chance to reside in liveable, safe, and clean surroundings - both hoarders and their neighbours too.
Top image via SCDF on Facebook

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Comment: Neighbours of hoarders live in constant anxiety over fire hazard, but what can be done?

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The risk of loss of life and property is real.

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SINGAPORE - A 50-year-old man was taken conscious to Changi General Hospital, after an accident involving his motorcycle and a car on the viaduct of Bartley Road East on Monday morning (8 April).

Police told Yahoo Southeast Asia that the car driver, a 35-year-old woman, is assisting with investigations.

The Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force said they were alerted to the accident on the viaduct of Bartley Road East towards Bartley Road, at 8.50am and about 9.30am respectively.

Police investigations are ongoing.

More than half of traffic accidents last year involved motorcyclists and pillion riders

According to the Traffic Police (TP) in its annual road traffic situation report in February, motorcyclist and pillion rider fatalities have spiked by 44.7 per cent, claiming a total of 68 lives in 2023.

Although motorcycles make up only 14.4 per cent of the total vehicle population in Singapore, motorcyclists and pillion riders were involved in 53.5 per cent of traffic accidents in 2023. They also accounted for half of all road fatalities last year.
Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com.

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Accident involving motorcycle and car on Bartley Road East viaduct sees 50-year-old motorcyclist taken to hospital

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A man was taken conscious to Changi General Hospital, after an accident involving his motorcycle and a car on the viaduct of Bartley Road East Read on.

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Traffic accidents on the road when people don't cross the road carefully. A car crash may happen, and not only the pedestrian will get hurt, the driver may also get hurt, or even other people not involved.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/pedestrian-injured-after-car-crashes-into-pavement-in-whampoa

There can also be fire hazards. When people are not careful when handling flammable products.

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Fire breaks out at Jurong East flat; neighbours have to remove clutter from stairwell to escape

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One person was taken to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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A HDB block caught fire but luckily everyone was evacuated on time and no injuries were reported

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40 residents evacuated from Eunos HDB block after fire breaks out at common corridor

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The SCDF extinguished the fire using two water jets, and no injuries were reported. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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1. road accidents + safety

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/fatal-road-accidents-up-in-2023-many-motorists-have-irresponsible-driving-behaviours-traffic-police

2. urban heat

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/telok-ayer-among-hottest-spots-in-s-pore-urban-heat-study

3. fires

https://mothership.sg/2023/10/electrical-fire-protect-homes-hager/

4. outbreak of diseases (i.e. dengue)

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/dengue-cases-aedes-mosquito-breeding-sites-clusters-nea-4125011

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Telok Ayer among hottest spots in S'pore: Urban heat study

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Telok Ayer Street and Amoy Street were found to be the hottest spots in Singapore. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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Air pollution can be caused by the burning of vegetation, like the vegetation fire in Punggol in 2014.

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Dry weather likely cause of bush fires in Punggol and Jurong East

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At least two patches of brush caught fire on Saturday at Punggol and Jurong East, a likely result of one of Singapore's longest periods of dry weather. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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heat stroke because sgs biggest hazard is the sun

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Majority of heat injury patients at SGH are young adults aged 18 to 39: Study

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Over 200 of the 426 heat-related injury cases at SGH happened in December, one of the cooler months. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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People can get hurt and the fire can spread to buildings. People can die. The quality of the environment can deplete. The air quality will worsen. Loss of habitat for animals. Loss of trees.

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A centralised rubbish chute caught fire at Block 305D Anchorvale Link in Sengkang on Wednesday afternoon (Sep 19).

Stomper Chockulai, who was at the scene at around 1.15pm, said two workers helped to extinguish the fire and praised them for a job well done.

He told Stomp: "I was walking home along Anchorvale Link when I was alerted to a pungent smell and saw a dustbin burning up in flames.

"Two policemen and firefighters arrived at the scene. Workers nearby also helped to put out the fire. Good job, everyone!

In response to a Stomp query, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it responded to a fire incident involving a centralised rubbish chute at 1.10pm.

"The fire involved the contents of a rubbish bin and was extinguished by the SCDF using a hose reel," added a spokesman.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Stomper quipped: "Seems like the recent hot weather isn't just causing discomfort to people but burning up bins as well."

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Workers and SCDF extinguish rubbish chute fire at Anchorvale Link

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A centralised rubbish chute caught fire at Block 305D Anchorvale Link in Sengkang on Wednesday afternoon (Sep 19). Read more at stomp.straitstimes.com

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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/dry-weather-likely-cause-of-bush-fires-in-punggol-and-jurong-east

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20 residents evacuated after fire breaks out in Hougang flat; no reported injuries

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SCDF said that there were no reported injuries from the fire, which involved the contents of a bedroom. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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fire hazards:

occur in both residential and non-residential areas

usually caused by unattended cooking and faulty electrical appliances and wiring

effects:

health impacts

property damage

common causes:

speeding

red-light running

drink-driving