SINGAPORE, May 16 — Firefighters have put out a “small fire” at the departure hall of Changi Airport Terminal 2, which sparked a major evacuation and affected flight operations today.
According to a statement from Changi Airport Group (CAG), the fire broke out at about 5:40pm. The fire alarm was activated due to smoke coming through the air vents.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said on Facebook at 7.04pm that it had put out the fire using a hosereel jet.
Travellers with flights today were seen being admitted back into the terminal. But they were only allowed to take the skytrain from T2 to T3.
Services at T2 have not resumed and the terminal remains evacuated.
In social media posts, eyewitnesses described the terminal as being smoke-filled but added that they could not see any flames.
“We have identified the cause of the fire. The situation is under control,” said CAG in a Facebook post. “Flight operations at T2 are affected. We seek the understanding of the public.”
Malaysian national Serene Yap, who was waiting for her flight at T 2, said the alarm went off for about 15 mins before airport personnel evacuated the passengers. The 52-year-old human resource consultant was in Singapore for a business trip and is travelling back to Kuala Lumpur.
She said: “The situation is not really chaotic but passengers are confused because we don’t know what’s going on. I asked about whether my flight will be delayed but they don’t know the answer.”
A Singaporean in his 40s who only wanted to be known as Mr Seng similarly said he was about to enter the immigration hall to catch a 7.25pm flight to Manila when he was told he won’t be admitted.
This story is developing. — TODAY
