Car Fire in MCE Tunnel Brings Expressway to a Complete Standstill

Traffic on the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) was brought to a complete standstill during Thursday evening's rush hour following a significant vehicle fire inside the tunnel. The incident occurred on September 18, 2025, in the direction of the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), causing major disruptions for commuters.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was alerted to the emergency at approximately 6:40 p.m. after receiving calls for assistance. The fire involved a conventional, non-electric vehicle. The tunnel's integrated safety systems played a crucial role in controlling the blaze; the built-in deluge system was automatically activated to suppress the fire. SCDF firefighters who arrived at the scene supplemented this by using a compressed air foam jet to fully extinguish the flames. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and the cause of the fire is now under investigation.

An eyewitness, Mr. Isaiah Tay, who was a passenger in a car within the tunnel, reported that traffic came to a "complete stop" at around 6:55 p.m. He observed a significant emergency response presence, with at least six fire engines and three police cars deployed to the scene. His Grab driver had received an official notification from the ride-hailing platform about the incident, warning of the car fire in the tunnel.

As the situation unfolded, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) took the rare but critical step of issuing a public safety announcement via radio. They advised all motorists who were already trapped inside the tunnel to exit their vehicles and evacuate immediately using the nearest emergency exits. This directive was issued to ensure public safety in case the fire escalated or produced dangerous fumes.

Mr. Tay and other commuters were stuck in the stationary traffic within the confined space of the tunnel for approximately 35 minutes. Another passenger confirmed the timeline, stating she entered the MCE at about 6:45 p.m. and was also immobilized for a similar duration. Footage taken after traffic began to move showed the fire-damaged vehicle on the shoulder of the expressway, with the fire completely put out.

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