313@somerset back in business after fire
The 313@somerset shopping mall in Orchard Road reopened for business at 1pm yesterday, following a fire that broke out the night before.
The general manager of 313@somerset, Ms Cheryl Goh, said in a media statement: "We are working closely with the authorities to investigate the cause of the incident. We are thankful for the support and patience of our retailers and shoppers and would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused."
The earlier part of the day had been spent on testing, clean-up and rectification work.
Many retail employees had turned up for work before 10am - the mall's official opening time - to find the shutters down and entrances barricaded.
At 11am, some employees were allowed to enter the mall for a short period to take what they needed from their shops.
Rip Curl, where the fire supposedly started, is closed until further notice. Escalators on one side of the mall are also closed for maintenance.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the fire at around 10.25pm on Thursday. It said the fire was in a storeroom inside a shop on the fourth storey of the mall.
The blaze was put out using a single water jet, while the mall's sprinkler system was also activated, according to an SCDF spokesman. A woman was taken to Singapore General Hospital after she tripped and fell. - THE STRAITS TIMES
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