Construction failure in the middle of the city: sinkhole swallows driver, hospitalizing her

A sinkhole approximately three meters deep suddenly opened up on a Singapore street, completely swallowing a car with a female driver inside. The incident occurred on Tanjong Katong Road South , an area where sewage works were being carried out.

According to local media and authorities, the collapse was due to a structural failure in an underground structure , specifically the collapse of a concrete box installed as part of the drainage system. A water leak had previously been detected at the site, which allegedly eroded the subsoil and weakened the pavement base.

The driver, a woman whose identity was not revealed, was rescued minutes later by a group of seven migrant workers working nearby. Using a rope, they managed to pull her out of the wrecked vehicle while she remained conscious, although showing signs of muscle pain.

She was immediately taken to the hospital, where she remains under observation without serious injuries, authorities confirmed.

The workers' actions were widely recognized by the Singaporean public and government. The rescuers were invited to the Istana (the presidential residence) and received a medal of recognition for their bravery. In addition, the ItsRainingRaincoats organization raised more than S$72,000 in public gratitude.

Minister for Sustainability and Environment Grace Fu called the incident “serious” and offered a public apology to the victim and those affected by the road closure.

The National Water Agency (PUB) and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) have launched parallel investigations to clarify the causes of the collapse and determine whether there were errors in the design or execution of the project.

For the time being, the area remains closed to traffic while safety tests are conducted and the sinkhole is filled. Authorities estimate the process could take several days.