SINGAPORE: The decomposing body of an 81-year-old man was discovered in his rental flat at Block 117 Bukit Merah View on 31 May 2025 at approximately 11:10am.
Neighbours were alerted by a strong smell emanating from the unit and subsequently contacted the authorities.
According to Lianhe Zaobao, the corridor outside the deceased’s flat was filled with the stench of decomposition. One neighbour, 68-year-old Tok, shared that the deceased lived alone and was hearing-impaired. He described the man as someone who would only nod in greeting and seldom spoke.
“I moved in about 14 years ago, and he was already living here then. He used to work at a petrol station before he retired,” said Tok.
He added that he had noticed the smell three days prior to the discovery. On the morning of 31 May, the odour intensified, prompting him to alert the police.
Tok, who shares his flat with a roommate, said they had resorted to using insect spray to mask the stench, which had become unbearable.
“Now that the body has been removed, we hope the smell will dissipate soon,” he said.
Another neighbour, 40-year-old Wu, said the elderly man appeared healthy and had a routine of going downstairs daily to buy food, after which he would return and close his door.
She noted that while the man had a son, he was rarely seen visiting. Wu initially assumed the odour was from nearby rubbish bins, which often emitted unpleasant smells.
Police confirmed receiving a report on 31 May regarding an 81-year-old man found motionless in his flat. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary investigations suggest no foul play. Police stated that investigations are ongoing.
String of solitary deaths raises alarm over senior isolation in urban Singapore
This case is the latest in a series of similar incidents highlighting the risks faced by elderly individuals living alone in Singapore.
On 1 May 2025, Zaobao reported the case of a man in his seventies found dead in his home at Block 8 North Bridge Road. Neighbours said they had recently seen him greeting people before his sudden death.
In March, a 71-year-old man’s skeletal remains were found in his Sims Place flat after workers spotted the body through a window while using a gondola system.
On 15 December 2024, the decomposing bodies of 71-year-old Lim Eng Keong and 67-year-old Mary Ong were found in their Jurong flat. Both were believed to have died of natural causes.
Then-MP for Jurong Spring ward, Shawn Huang, described the couple as active and friendly participants at a local Active Ageing Centre. He emphasised the need for stronger community support for seniors.
Data tracking gaps
Concerns have also been raised in Parliament over the lack of data on elderly people who die alone.
According to The Straits Times, the Ministry of Health does not track such deaths, though the Health Sciences Authority handles fewer than 100 unclaimed bodies annually.
The police also do not keep statistics on such cases, a point confirmed by Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam on 7 August 2024.
Workers’ Party MP Dennis Tan questioned whether relevant agencies receive data on such cases to help prevent future incidents. Shanmugam said that while police do not track the data, they refer isolated seniors encountered during patrols to appropriate services.
Parliamentary calls for improvement
In May 2023, MP Yip Hon Weng proposed better monitoring and intervention for seniors resistant to community engagement. He stressed that tracking such cases could prevent similar deaths.
Minister of State for National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim cited initiatives under the Ageing Action Plan, including the Live Well, Age Well programme and outreach by Silver Generation Ambassadors.
However, he acknowledged the importance of broader community involvement to identify at-risk seniors.
Dennis Tan also called for increased resources for Active Ageing Centres and better access for staff to check on seniors.
The Online Citizen has begun documenting solitary deaths in Singapore through its politicalsg wiki, providing a centralised resource for tracking such incidents.
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