No sign of missing boy in Kallang River after extensive 12-hour search: SCDF

Following an extensive 12-hour search for the 13-year-old boy who went missing in Kallang River, there was still no sign of him, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

The search operation was called off for the second time at 7pm on Feb. 26, 2026.

The boy went missing on Feb. 25 afternoon.

A search and rescue operation by the Singapore Police Force and SCDF was previously carried out to search for the boy in a case of suspected drowning at Kallang River.

Lianhe Zaobao previously reported that he had been fishing when he supposedly fell into the river.

Search operation

On Feb. 25, 2026, the police and SCDF were alerted to the incident at about 4:30pm and 4:35pm respectively.

SCDF firefighters and rescuers from the Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) responded to the incident.

DART rescuers conducted an underwater search in the area where the reported missing person was last seen.

After more than four hours of search, operations were suspended as a safety precaution due to low visibility as nightfall approached.

No sign

Earlier at about 7am on the morning of Feb. 26, 2026, SCDF resumed the search operation along Kallang River.

When Mothership was at Kallang River from around 4:30pm to 7pm on Feb. 26, 2026, the search and rescue operation was still underway.

Following an extensive search of the area, there was no sign of the missing person, said SCDF.

Periodic checks

SCDF said: "The active search operation was called off at about 7pm.

"SCDF will continue to monitor the situation and conduct periodic checks in the area."

'No experience fishing'

His mother, who gave her name as Siti, is from Surabaya, Indonesia, and currently lives in Redhill, The Straits Times reported.

She identified the missing boy as Daniel, who has two brothers and studies at Northlight School, CNA reported.

Northlight School is a specialised school for students who are less academically inclined, and focuses on vocational studies.

The last time Siti saw her son, he told her he was joining his friends who were going fishing.

She had a bad feeling at the time.

"Someone called me at 5pm on Feb. 25 to say my son had slipped into Kallang River while fishing and was missing," Siti told ST. "Why would he go? He has no experience fishing."

When the 46-year-old mother found out Daniel was missing, she rushed to the river immediately.

Reporters saw Siti keeping vigil with her two other sons along the Kallang River, near Block 8B Upper Boon Keng Road, on Feb. 26.

Fishing together

A boy who claimed to be Daniel's friend and schoolmate told AsiaOne they had been fishing together with two others when the incident occurred.

The friend said he saw Daniel fall into the water while they were trying to fix a fishing rod, and due to the strong winds, they were unable to save Daniel.

Top photos via Mothership