Channel NewsAsia - Thursday, July 3
SINGAPORE: The explosion at the Somerset substation caused some 500 workers to leave their offices at 111 Somerset Road, formerly known as the Singapore Power building.
Four people were injured and sent to the Singapore General Hospital. One of them suffered 2nd degree burns and the rest were treated for smoke inhalation.
Workers from other nearby malls and offices streamed out onto the streets. A part of the Orchard Road shopping belt was briefly plunged into darkness and traffic was also disrupted after a flash fire broke out a power substation.
SP PowerGrid said its contractor had been carrying out maintenance work at the 66—kilovolt (66kV) substation when a flash fire occurred.
The explosion also disrupted traffic and triggered blackouts at many buildings in the Orchard Road vicinity.
Weng Enqi from *Scape Youth Centre, said: "It happened really fast. All the lights went out and we heard a loud bang and we felt the vibrations from the bang. My colleague shouted, "Explosion!" because from her window she could actually see a ball of fire." — CNA/vm