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Hotel New World collapse

On 15 March 1986 at around 11:25 am, the 67-room Hotel New World, situated at the junction of Serangoon Road and Owen Road, collapsed killing at least 33. However, 17 were rescued with the aid of the Civil Defence Force, the Singapore Armed Forces, the Fire Brigade and tunnelling experts from the MRT.

Background
The one-star hotel was housed in the six-storey Lian Yak building. The Industrial and Commercial Bank was also located in the same building. The hotel first hit headlines in August 1975 when poisonous gas leaked into several hotel rooms. The hotel was then known as New Serangoon Hotel.

Description
When the Hotel collapsed, it had stood for only 15 years. The Civil Defence Force, the Singapore Armed Forces and the fire brigade were activated to deal with the disaster and a pre-war shophouse, Eagle piano Company opposite, was used as the centre for the rescue operation. Altogether 17 people were rescued - nine by local helpers and eight by tunnelling experts from Britain, Ireland and Japan who had been stationed in Singapore for the construction of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). At least 33 victims died as a result of the disaster. Huge cranes, power saws, mechanical shovels and drills, and life detectors were used in the rescue operation with two helicopters stationed in Farrer Park to fly the injured to hospitals.

A Commission of Inquiry was set up to investigate the cause of the collapse. Under-design, shoddy workmanship and cost-cutting by the contractors were responsible for the collapse, resulting in amendments being made to current building practices.

Impact
The Development and Building Control Division in the Ministry of National Development was empowered to conduct independent checks of all new buildings to ensure that building standards were met.

Highlights
When : 15 March 1986 at around 11.25 am.
Where : junction of Serangoon Road and Owen Road.
Victims : 33 dead, 17 rescued with the aid of the Civil Defence Force, the Singapore Armed Forces, the fire brigade and tunnelling experts from MRT.



Author
Tan Lay Yuen 



References 
How the victims were rescued. (1986, March 23). The Straits Times, pp. 4-5.

Learn from disaster to prevent recurrence. (1986, March 25). The Straits Times, p. 12.

Rescue pace stepped up. (1986, March 16). The Straits Times.


Further Readings
Hon, J. (1987). Hotel New World collapse. Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: RSING 904.7095957 HON) 

Thean, L. P., et al. (1987). Report of the inquiry into the collapse of Hotel New World. Singapore: Singapore National Printers.
(Call no.: RSING 690.85095957 SIN)

How to avoid another Hotel New World disaster: What went wrong. (1987, March 29). The Straits Times, pp. 1, 14-15.

100 expected to testify at inquiry. (1986, September 16). The Straits Times, p. 14.

The information in this article is valid as at 2002 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Events>>Disasters
Disasters--Singapore
Building failures--Singapore
Building failures--Investigation--Singapore
Structural failures--Singapore
Science and technology>>Construction>>Buildings



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