垃圾槽关不上蟑螂满屋窜 六旬夫妇喊苦 | 联合早报
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20260920-9705130
Here’s the full detailed account in English:
Elderly Couple in Tampines Plagued by Cockroaches as Rubbish Chute Door Won't Close
Reported: 20 Sep 2026, 14:04 | Source: Shin Min Daily News / Zaobao
The Situation
- Residents: Mr Zhong Qiangxing (69, retired) and his wife (68), living in Block 275, Tampines Street 22, 8th floor — a 4-room HDB flat they have occupied for about 30 years.
- Problem started: April 2026 — the kitchen rubbish chute door could no longer close properly.
- Consequences:
- Cockroaches and geckos crawl in from the chute almost daily.
- Pests have been found on clothing and even on family members, including their son.
- Foul odour from waste seeps into the home; they use air freshener to mask it.
- Both are in poor health and deeply concerned about hygiene risks.
Efforts to Resolve
- They approached the authorities, who advised them to engage a contractor privately.
- The couple is willing to pay for the replacement, but contractors they contacted refused to start work.
- Contractors' concerns: Removing the old chute could cause surrounding tiles to crack or fall off; the full scope of additional work is uncertain.
Industry Perspective
- Lim Bing Hong, Director, Eight Design: The issue is common in older HDB blocks — likely door warping. Replacement typically takes one day and costs a few hundred dollars. Cement can fix exposed areas; matching and replacing tiles adds to the cost.
- Lim Ah Ba, Advisory Consultant, Renovation Trade Association: After replacement, waterproofing is critical — the building management regularly flushes chutes from the top floor, and leaks must be prevented.
Current Status
- No contractor has yet agreed to take the job.
- The couple remains distressed and is appealing for help from a suitable contractor.
The death of a 17-year-old boy in S'pore in 2021 from a basketball frame that fell on him has been ruled a misadventure.
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Here’s the full detailed account from the report:
Incident Overview
- Date & time: Jul 26, 2021
- Location: Block 18 Bedok South Road, Singapore
- Victim: Mohd Ridwan, 17 years old
- What happened: During a basketball game with friends, Ridwan attempted a dunk and held onto the rim for about 2 seconds. The entire hoop structure collapsed onto him, causing fatal head injuries. Paramedics resuscitated him for 10 minutes but he died in hospital.
Coroner’s Ruling – 18 Sep 2026
- Manner of death: Ruled misadventure
- Key finding: His actions — dunking and holding the rim — were normal and part of the game, and did not contribute to the accident. The structure should have easily withstood those forces.
Why It Collapsed
1. Faulty welding
- The pole broke at the joint where upper and lower sections were welded together — this was the weakest point.
- Welding was inconsistent and substandard.
- Investigations suggest the pole had likely been damaged and crudely repaired by welding; the other hoop on the same court had no such joint.
- It could not be confirmed if the damage happened before or after installation.
- Had it been a single solid pole, the failure would not have occurred.
2. Lack of proper engineering oversight
- The court had been renovated shortly before the accident.
- Works were supposed to follow designs endorsed by a Professional Engineer — but the contractor (TMS Alliances) project manager was unaware of this requirement.
- No Professional Engineer was engaged, and no structural safety checks were done during or after installation.
Aftermath & Responses
- Immediate actions: All basketball courts in the estate were closed right after the incident.
- Reviews: Independent engineers inspected all sports structures; only those certified safe were reopened or replaced.
- Legal: The victim’s family has reached a settlement with East Coast Town Council and managing agent EM Services.
- Town Council statement: Acknowledged findings, pledged stronger oversight and compliance, expressed condolences, and said supporting the family remains a priority.
Sources: CNA / Shin Min Daily News / East Coast Town Council Facebook | Reported Sep 20, 2026
Me didn't watch whole match but from clips think they use pep's strategy from league cup final. High press. And they pick good time cos chiong 1 match then rest for 2weeks.