A 39-year-old Singapore resident escaped serious injury when a water heater exploded at his house on Saturday, October 1. The incident served as a warning to the public after the man shared photos of the damage and recounted his experience.
The Australian tenant, who had moved to Singapore in June and was living in a condominium unit at Cote D'Azur in Marine Parade, said that he was reading a book on morality when the explosion occurred, reported the Straits Times.
The electric water heater, which had exploded, was placed in the en-suite bathroom, and the damage was severe in the master bedroom as well. The bathroom door had flown off its hinges and the bathroom window had been completely shattered. The door had hit the bed, smashed the bedroom windows and glass doors of the balcony. The window, on the other hand, had landed almost 10 metres away from the building. However, no fire was caused due to the explosion.
The tenant, Eduardo, had taken a bath about half an hour before the mishap. He said that his wife's personal care products and make-up had also flown out the window by the explosion's impact.
"I was sitting on my bed reading at 4.50pm when my wife asked me to go to my daughter's room before going for a walk at East Coast Park. If she had not called me over, I would have been badly injured," Eduardo told the Straits Times.
"The heater was hanging from the ceiling, some water was dripping off. The ceiling was also badly damaged," added Eduardo.
Thanking fate for his narrow escape, Eduardo said, "It was ironic that I was reading that book on mortality. I was very lucky to have got out of the room. Hopefully, there are some safety lessons to help other people."
The family is currently staying in a nearby hotel, while the Singapore Civil Defence Force is investigating the cause of the accident.
