17-year-old boy who died after fire in Yishun flat was alone at home

A 17-year-old boy died after a fire broke out in a flat at Block 783 Yishun Ring Road on Saturday night (June 10).

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the fire in the 12th-floor unit at around 8.55pm.

When firefighters arrived, they found the fire raging and conducted forced entry into the smoke-logged unit.

"The fire, which involved contents of a bedroom, was extinguished with a water jet," said SCDF in a Facebook post.

"During the firefighting operation, SCDF found an unconscious person in the unit. The person was carried out of the unit by firefighters and brought to the ground floor.

"SCDF's emergency medical services personnel commenced Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and conveyed the person to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital."

The teenager subsequently died of his injuries, said police, adding that investigations are ongoing.

About 50 people from neighbouring units were evacuated by the SCDF and police as a precautionary measure.

According to Lianhe Zaobao, the teenager was alone in the three-room flat when the fire broke out. His mother was overseas with his two younger siblings, while his father was not home.

The deceased had been waiting to enlist in the army.

Residents were left puzzled as to why he failed to escape the blaze in time and wondered if he might have been asleep when the incident occurred, reported Zaobao.

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