Mum And Daughter Burnt In Leaky Gas Canister Blast

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Source date: 24-7-2006
Singapore

A 15-MONTH-OLD baby girl and her 41-year-old mother were badly burnt when a leak from the liquid petroleum gas canister in their kitchen resulted in an explosion.

Ms Amana Li and daughter Arthma are at Singapore General Hospital with first-degree burns, following the blast on Saturday evening.

It is believed Ms Li was starting the gas cooker to warm milk for Arthma when the explosion occurred.

The force of the blast dislodged the stove above the canister, flinging the iron cooking grill across the floor. No fire ensued.

Residents of Platinum Residence, a condominium in Geylang Lorong 31, heard a bang and felt the building vibrate at 8.45pm.

'My fiance thought it was fireworks, as there had been some an hour before,' said Ms Joyce Yu, a 31-year-old housewife who lives on the third floor. Fireworks from the National Day Parade rehearsal at the National Stadium can be seen from the building.

She looked out of her bedroom window, which faces the affected unit, and saw Ms Li running out, holding her daughter.

Ms Li ran to Ms Yu's home and asked her to call the police, before running to the bathroom to splash cold water on herself and her child.

'She was in shock and could not speak properly,' said Ms Yu.

'She just repeated something about a gas explosion, and that she was in pain.'

Ms Li and Arthma were taken to hospital by Singapore Civil Defence Force officers, who arrived at the scene at about 8.55pm.

The family had lived in the flat for about a month. Ms Li's husband, Mr Ron Singh, was at work at the time of the incident and was informed by their landlord. Their other child, a three-year-old girl, was not injured.

A spokesman for the Singapore Civil Defence Force said the case is still under investigation.

Labels: Old News