Woman who died in Choa Chu Kang flat fire hoarded items, neighbours claim

She apparently lived with her son who was out at the time of the fire.

Khine Zin Htet| September 24, 2024, 03:04 PM

The woman who died in the Choa Chu Kang flat fire on the morning of Sep. 24 was allegedly known to hoard things in her house, her neighbours told Lianhe Zaobao.

Zaobao said the woman was in her 60s.

In a later update, the police told 8world that the deceased was a 79-year-old woman.

Zaobao reported that the woman lived in the unit at Block 692A Choa Chu Kang Crescent with her son, who had special needs, but he was not at home when the fire broke out.

He was believed to have gone out to buy breakfast.

Clutter at home

Photo from SCDF/Facebook

Neighbours told the Chinese publication that the woman hoarded items that were kept inside and outside her unit, which affected their access along the corridor.

Another neighbour claimed that the town council and the woman's relatives came to help clear the clutter at least twice, but it was only a matter of time before things would get cluttered again.

One died, 150 evacuated

One person was pronounced dead at the scene after a fire broke out in the early hours of Sep. 24 at the block.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a Facebook post that they responded to the fire at 5:25am.

About 150 persons from the block were evacuated.

Top photo from SCDF/Facebook and Google Maps