On June 19, 2025, a 65-year-old male retiree was seriously injured after part of the ceiling collapsed on him while he was using the toilet in his Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat at Block 127 Yishun Street 11. The incident occurred at approximately 4:30am, when the man had woken up to prepare for morning prayers. During the incident, a section of spalling concrete from the bathroom ceiling fell and struck him, rendering him unconscious.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) received a call for assistance at 4:50am and dispatched emergency responders to the flat. The injured man was conveyed by ambulance to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. First aid was administered at the scene, and the man was found to have sustained a large laceration on the top of his head. He received over 10 stitches and also suffered injuries to his shoulder and knee. He remains under medical observation.
The man's 34-year-old daughter, named Siti, shared that her stepmother had heard a loud crash followed by cries for help. However, the toilet door was jammed due to the fallen debris, and it took her some time to force the door open. By the time she reached her husband, he had already blacked out. She contacted a nearby relative and called an ambulance immediately.
Siti said that there were no visible signs indicating the ceiling was compromised before the incident. There had been no recent renovation works in the unit or in the unit above. The flat had previously undergone the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) in 2018, during which toilet tiles and fittings were replaced and ceilings were repainted. No repairs for spalling concrete were done at that time as there were no signs of deterioration.
Following the incident, large chunks of concrete and other debris were found scattered across the toilet floor. Siti lodged a police report and contacted the HDB. According to her, both her father and stepmother have been traumatised by the incident, and she fears the stress could worsen her father's underlying health issues, including high blood pressure. He is also on blood-thinning medication, which prolongs the healing of his wounds.
The family is currently living in a flat under the Lease Buyback Scheme. Siti expressed concern over the financial strain the incident may place on her retired parents and hopes authorities will assist with repair costs out of goodwill.
On June 20, the Housing and Development Board released a statement confirming they were alerted to the incident involving spalling concrete. The unit in question was built 41 years ago. HDB officers conducted an immediate inspection on the same day and removed the loose concrete from the master bedroom bathroom floor. A further inspection revealed slight bulging in the ceiling of the kitchen bathroom. Although there was no imminent danger in that area, HDB scheduled preventive removal of the bulging concrete on June 23 for the residents’ safety.
HDB stated that it is assisting the family under the Goodwill Repair Assistance (GRA) scheme and is also coordinating with grassroots organisations to provide financial support for the repair works. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the affected residents.
Spalling concrete is a result of carbonation — a natural deterioration process in which steel reinforcement bars in the concrete ceiling corrode, particularly in moisture-prone areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. HDB advises residents to regularly inspect ceilings for cracks or holes, seal any visible damage promptly, and ensure proper ventilation to reduce moisture build-up.
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