Three dead in Hougang flat fire; 30 residents evacuated

Firefighters faced challenges making forced entry due to excessive number of items inside

- Ian Cheng Correspondent and Andrew Wong

Three people were pronounced dead at the scene of a fire at a Housing Board block in Hougang on Jan 9, during which about 30 residents on the first seven floors were evacuated.

Two victims were found inside a bedroom during the firefighting operation in a unit on the third floor of Block 971 Hougang Street 91, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said on Facebook.

In an update later in the evening, it said a third body was discovered in a bedroom.

Firefighters forced entry into the affected unit, but encountered challenges entering due to an excessive number of items inside, SCDF added.