Migrant workers rescue adults & children trapped during River Valley shophouse fire

Thick smokes was seen coming out of the third floor of a three-storey shophouse at 278 River Valley Road on Apr. 8.

According to a video shared to Facebook, several people, including children, were seen sitting on the third-floor ledge just below the windows.

Several people were also seen standing on a scaffolding with two people in high-visibility vests reaching out to help the people on the ledge.

A girl was also seen being carried to safety.

Rescued was carried out migrant workers

A subsequent post by local community initiative, It's Raining Raincoats, revealed that migrant workers were involved in the rescue of those trapped in the building on fire.

Upon seeing the fire, migrant workers brought ladders and scaffolding to help evacuate all of the children who were purportedly at a holiday camp.

"If you know any of these courageous migrant workers, please reach out to us. We want to honor them and send them a well-deserved treat as a token of appreciation for their actions," the group wrote.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they immediately deployed rescue ladders and a Combined Platform Ladder to rescue the rest of the stranded persons on the ledge.

At the same time, firefighters proceeded to the second and third floor to fight the fire.

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

About 80 persons from the affected shophouse and nearby premises were evacuated by the police and SCDF.

A total four adults and 15 children were conveyed to the hospital.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

SCDF said: "We would like to thank the members of the public who assisted in the rescue of the stranded persons for their quick actions and bravery."

Top images via ItsRainingRaincoats/Facebook & Bae Bay/Facebook