Lift Malfunction Delays Visit to 60th-Floor Restaurant, Family Rescued by Firefighters
A family of three was trapped in a malfunctioning lift at UOB Plaza 1 on the evening of October 9, after a jolt caused the lift to stop at the fourth floor before it descended suddenly to the second. The family, which was heading to the Si Chuan Dou Hua restaurant on the 60th floor, found themselves stuck for over three hours when attempts to fix the lift failed.
The family, consisting of 74-year-old Mr. Chia, his wife, and their 14-year-old daughter, rang the lift alarm bell repeatedly but received no response. After calling the number listed in the lift, they were informed that a mechanic was on the way. However, when the first mechanic arrived, he was unable to resolve the issue. Another mechanic attempted to fix the problem but was equally unsuccessful.
After an hour of being trapped, Mr. Chia contacted the police, and the family was left without air-conditioning while the lights remained on. Firefighters from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) finally reached the lift through a hatch on top and used a ladder to help the family climb over into an adjacent lift. The family was freed at 10pm, three and a half hours after the ordeal began.
Although the restaurant had closed by the time the family was freed, the restaurant manager kindly invited them in for a light meal. An ambulance was present at the scene, but no medical treatment was required. A spokesperson for UOB apologised for the incident, stating that the situation is under investigation, and all lifts at UOB Plaza 1 have been thoroughly inspected. Mr. Chia expressed his concern about how the experience would have affected families with young children, and mentioned that his family had trouble sleeping that night due to the distressing experience.
