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In Singapore, we're relatively sheltered from extreme weather events such as hail or earthquakes.
Recently, a TikTok user and YouTuber uploaded two separate videos of a strange weather phenomenon causing debris from a construction site to float in the air.
Capturing the unusual weather
User yeothuang1968 posted an approximately four minute video about the strange weather event on TikTok on May 1.
@yeothuang1968♬ original sound - yeothuang1968
The video garnered almost 78k views over two days, and was apparently taken at the Changi Airport Terminal 5's construction site.
The video showed items at the construction site being whirled around in the air by strong gusts of wind.
GIF via yeothuang1968/ TikTok
Not long after, even the orange and white safety barricades were being shifted by the wind.
GIF via yeothuang1968/ TikTok
The wind was so strong that some of the barricades were lifted into the air.
GIF via yeothuang1968/ TikTok
Several men could be heard shouting behind the camera about the barricade.
The wind was also strong enough to lift some metal sheets away from the ground.
GIF via yeothuang1968/ TikTok
The metal sheets swivelled around in the air for a while before gradually falling.
Throughout the video, birds could be heard frantically crowing and were seen flying away from the imminent path of the levitating debris.
Towards the end, the strong winds eventually died down.
GIF via yeothuang1968/ TikTok
Similar YouTube video
A YouTuber also uploaded a video with similar contents from the same location on May 2, and described the weather event as a "tornado".
Netizens' reactions
On the TikTok video, several netizens were speculating about the weather phenomenon taking place.
They identified it as a possible landspout or waterspout event.
Image via yeothuang1968/ TikTok
Image via yeothuang1968/ TikTok
Image via yeothuang1968/ TikTok
Other netizens tried to put a lighthearted spin on the situation.
Image via yeothuang1968/ TikTok
Image via yeothuang1968/ TikTok
On the YouTube video, a netizen was left pondering the ephemeral nature of life.
Image via Amin Aziz Random YouTube video/ YouTube
Changi Airport Group statement
Mothership reached out to Changi Airport Group (CAG), whose spokesperson confirmed that this incident had happened in the morning of Apr. 30 at the Changi East development site.
According to CAG's website, the Changi East development site is a construction project for the new Terminal 5, a three-runway system, tunnels and underground systems, landslide and aviation support facilities and the Changi East Industrial Zone.
A CAG spokesperson attributed the incident to "unusual weather phenomena" and stated that no one sustained injuries.
Additional measures have been taken to improve the safety at the construction site, following a safety assessment.
Construction works have since resumed after CAG and its contractors "secured the movable items with additional support".
Mothership also reached out to the Meteorological Society Singapore (MSS), which identified the event as a landspout, an "extremely rare" phenomena.
Read MSS's full statement here:
Cover images from @yeothuang1968/ TikTok.