SINGAPORE: Last Tuesday (10 September), a fire broke out in a one-bedroom HDB flat located on the ninth floor of Block 104, Bukit Merah.
The blaze was reportedly started by a three-year-old boy who had been left unattended.
The fire, which originated from a mattress ignited with a lighter, caused significant damage to the unit and affected surrounding areas.
In response to the incident, TikTok user @something4rsomeone launched a fundraising appeal on September 14 to support the affected family.
Within just four days, the appeal successfully raised over S$4,000.
An accompanying video captured the TikToker delivering the funds in cash to Mr Liu, the head of the affected family.
Mr Liu, who lives with his wife and three children, expressed his gratitude for the public’s support.
He shared that the family has relocated to temporary accommodation and has received sufficient donations to manage their immediate needs.
However, he noted that they are still expecting more items to be delivered and took the opportunity to thank everyone for their “concern, love, and donations.”
The fundraising effort will continue until 20 September, at 11:59 pm.
Donations can be made via the PayLah/PayNow QR code available on @something4rsomeone’s TikTok page.
Any proceeds received after the deadline will be used for future charitable activities under the same account.
@something4rsomeone UNCLE LIU (Part 3) UPDATE
How are you and family? We are doing alright easing into our new home. We have received much help. How is your new home and are there any other items you need? We have enough for now. Many people have donated and there are still more items on delivery. Are you going back to your old place once it is refurbished? No. We will not be going back. We will stay in our new home from now on. Mr Liu would like to thank everyone for their concern, love and donations. It will help them a lot to recooperate after the incident. We also told Mr Liu to let us know if he ever needs any sort of help or other extra items, the community are ready to assist. Just give us a text/call. As many if you would like to donate items, we are trying to organise a donation drive for the low income communities in the area. You can make a difference. We will keep you updated. More than $4000 was raise during the first batch of fundraising. The final batch of fundraising for Mr Liu is still ongoing. Although Mr Liu has paynow, he has difficulty using it, hence he has allowed us to collect on his behalf. All proceeds will go to him directly during this period and everything will be accounted for. (Link in bio) We will end our final collection on *Friday 20th September 2024 (23:59)*. Everything after the cut-off time will be used as donations under this page. Thank you Singapore, for doing something for someone.
‘True Kampung spirit’
In the comments section of the TikToker’s post, many praised the gesture, calling it a true representation of Singapore’s “Kampung spirit.”
Others commended how this act highlights Singapore’s spirit of compassion and the country’s ability to come together and support one another during challenging times, reflecting its harmony in a multi-racial society.
According to earlier report from Shin Min Daily News, Mr Liu and his wife were at work when the fire started, leaving their two sons, aged three and nine, at home.
A friend was supposed to supervise the children but left them unattended for unknown reasons.
The older son, who was playing mobile games, did not notice the fire initially but acted quickly to get his younger brother to safety and alert the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
SCDF firefighters promptly extinguished the fire, which had spread from the bedroom, and evacuated about 35 residents from the building.
Smoke from the fire caused visibility issues in the corridor, prompting police and SCDF personnel to assist elderly and disabled residents to safety. Six individuals were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
The fire caused extensive damage to Mr Liu’s flat, including the destruction of personal belongings and electronics.
The family faces the challenge of replacing these items while managing their daily expenses.
Mr Liu, a cleaner, and his wife, a food stall assistant, have a combined monthly income of just over S$2,000.
Their 11-year-old daughter, who returned home later in the day, was devastated to find her belongings destroyed.
Despite the overwhelming losses, Mr Liu emphasized that the safety of his children remains his top priority.
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