Gas pipe explosion triggers loud bangs at prawn noodle stall in West Coast Centre
Footage of the incident showed the area filling with smoke, as vendors ran to check on the situation and diners either left or shifted seats.
A gas pipe exploded in a prawn noodle stall at West Coast Food Centre on the morning of Aug 19, triggering two loud bangs around 9am.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted and cordoned off the area for investigations, Shin Min Daily News reported.
When a reporter arrived at about 10.45am, the food centre, located at Clementi West Street 2, had largely resumed operations, though several police officers remained at the scene.
Prawn noodle stall closed on Tuesdays
The owner of the prawn noodle stall, Sheng Huat, said her business is typically closed on Tuesdays. She rushed down only after fellow vendors alerted her to the explosion.
She was told several blasts had come from her stall, followed by problems with the water pipe.
With inspections still ongoing, she believes she will not be able to reopen on Wednesday (Aug 20).
Area filled with smoke
Linda, an employee who works at a nearby braised noodle stall, told Shin Min Daily News that she was cooking when she heard the loud bangs and rushed out in alarm.
Footage shot by her showed the area quickly filling with smoke, with vendors rushing to check on the situation as diners either left or shifted seats.
Linda added that someone tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher, but the foam ended up contaminating her food. As a result, she had to suspend operations.
She estimated her losses to be about $2,000.
Two stalls suspended operations
Out of the five stalls in the same row, only the prawn noodle and braised noodle stalls remained closed. The rest reopened after being allowed to do so more than an hour after the incident.
Staff from the gas company were also seen at the scene.
Shin Min has reached out to the authorities for comment.