Geylang Shophouses that Caught Fire were also Overcrowded

Because landlords that are ghetto enough to have fire-prone properties, are ghetto enough to overcrowd. Yet another group of Geylang shophouses has proven to be both:

Fire-prone Geylang

Last Sunday, another fire broke out at two shophouses along Geylang Lorong 4, at around 2pm. These were units 45 and and 47, and around 20 people had to be evacuated.

This is now a hat trick. Geylang has seen three serious fires in this year alone. In March, for example, a row of seven shophouses in Geylang caught fire, with flames jumping three storeys high and requiring 60 firefighters to put out. Just around three months later, two shophouses along Lorong 14 (units 67 and 69) burned down.

None of this is unprecedented. Back in 2014, four foreign workers were killed in a Geylang fire, after an overcrowding incident.

Turns out we have another overcrowding situation

According to URA, the two units that caught fire are approved for residential use. However, the maximum number of tenants is six unrelated people. You may notice this is significantly fewer than the 20 people who were evacuated.

As it turns, out 14 work permit holders were staying in the unit. In addition, the URA is investigating whether the properties were converted into dormitories without proper authorisation. There are strict requirements for foreign worker dorms, under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA). That’s to ensure the property owner can’t just put up some office cubicle walls, and start housing a dozen people.

There’s fines of up to $200,000 waiting, if the dorm is unlicensed.

Why does this keep happening in Geylang?

Overcrowding tends to result in fires. When you have 20 people using the same electrical outlets, powering all their phones, laptops, fans, etc., a fire is just more likely. It’s compounded by the number of people who may be sharing the use of a stove.

As for the overcrowding, it’s due to an unhealthy combination of some uncaring landlords, and construction firms squeezed on margins. Geylang has some of the most absurd overcrowding situations in Singapore. The record to date is 66(!) foreign workers crammed into two shophouses.

Many of the tenants are foreign workers, and share a common fear: they don’t want to cause trouble, lest they get sent home. As such, the main witnesses to overcrowding are the ones least inclined to report it. It’s just easier to get away with overcrowding  a Geylang shophouse than in, say, an HDB flat where everyone will notice.

It’s really time that authorities start to crack down on Geylang overcrowding. We can expect tighter scrutiny, given the three fires already this year.

What do you think should be done about Geylang? Voice your thoughts in our comments section or on our Facebook community page.

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