Illegal gamblers dirty Aljunied void deck, attracting rats to area

A group of people gathering illegally to gamble at the void deck of Block 112 Aljunied Crescent reportedly fuelled a rat infestation in the area.

Mr Chen, 59, said he saw many rats running around the area in the past two weeks, especially on rainy days.

He claimed to have seen 20 to 30 rats scurrying around.

Another resident, Ms Lee, said that people gather at the block's void deck every night to gamble illegally. They would place a basket next to themselves to collect garbage, such as food waste from eating and drinking.

She believed that it had affected the cleanliness of the area and attracted rats.

When Shin Min Daily News visited the block, it was reported that several rat burrows were spotted.

Mr David, 49, revealed that the rats would come out of their burrows and climb up the stairs onto the corridors at night.

"We are all worried about the rat infestation, which has been going on for more than six months," he said.

Mr Lee, 43, revealed that though the rats had been roaming the block for a while, the situation was not as serious in the early days.

However, as more people gathered to gamble, it led to many issues concerning the hygiene of the area.

"Not only is it noisy and there are rat infestations, but there is also the smell of urine."

The Marine Parade Town Council told the Chinese daily that it has arranged for pest control to inspect the area and exterminate the rats.

The spokesperson said the town council conducts weekly inspections and takes preventive measures such as trapping and exterminating rats in the vicinity.

In addition, dustbins are regularly cleaned and maintained to prevent them from becoming breeding grounds for rodents.

The Town Council has been evaluating the effectiveness of measures, adjusting strategies accordingly, and continuously monitoring the situation.

Residents are reminded to do their part to keep the environment clean.