1 child, aged 10, dead, 18 children & adults injured: Fire at River Valley Road shophouse

A child has died after a fire broke out at a shophouse in River Valley Road on Apr. 8, The Straits Times reported.

The child has been identified as a 10-year-old girl.

A total of 18 others, including children, were injured.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to the fire at 278 River Valley Road at about 9:45am.

A total of 15 children and four adults were taken to the hospital, SCDF said.

The listed address of Tomato Cooking School is in the three-storey shophouse, according to ST.

The school runs cooking camps for children.

A fire was raging on the second and third floors of the building when SCDF arrived, the statement said.

Footage of the incident showed thick smoke billowing from the windows.

Members of the public, including construction workers, used a metal scaffolding and a ladder to rescue those trapped, including children.

SCDF officers deployed ladders to reach those on the ledge.

An eyewitness told ST that he saw multiple children, who were motionless, being carried out of the premises by SCDF officers.

The fire was extinguished within 30 minutes using three water jets.

About 80 people were evacuated.

Mothership has contacted the police for more information.

Child of India politician hurt in fire

According to media reports in India, among the injured was the son of a political party leader, Pawan Kalyan, who will travel to Singapore after completing his earlier commitments, the party said

The JanaSena Party said on Facebook on Tuesday that the boy, identified as Mark Shankar, was injured on his hands and legs and had breathing difficulties.

He was conveyed to the hospital.

Top photos via Google Maps & Estine Morris-bullock