In a startling incident at a Bukit Batok hawker center, a customer’s mini pot noodles exploded after a stall assistant attempted to enhance the burner’s flame with gel fuel. This dangerous occurrence left the customer’s possessions singed and her hair nearly catching fire.
The mishap unfolded at a stall within the hawker center located at 155 Bukit Batok Street 11, around 11 am, as reported by Shin Min Daily News. Wei Yuqin, the customer, had ordered a fishball noodle dish served in a mini pot. Shortly after being served, she noticed the flame under the pot dimming and requested assistance to intensify the flame.
Attempting to address the issue, a 60-year-old female assistant approached and decided to pour gel fuel directly into the burner, despite Wei’s expressions of concern over the danger. The addition of the fuel led to an immediate explosion that not only endangered Wei but also damaged her personal belongings, including her handphone and two plastic bags.
Wei, fortunately, managed to escape significant harm, avoiding burns as she quickly moved away from the table. Fellow customers swiftly intervened to extinguish the flames. Despite the swift response, Wei’s personal items sustained damage from the incident.
Reflecting on past visits, Wei noted that assistants typically added gel fuel more cautiously, suggesting this incident could have been avoided with more prudent handling. The assistant involved confessed to Shin Min Daily News that it was her first attempt at using gel fuel in such a manner, admitting her error and expressing regret over the unintended consequences.
Following the incident, the noodle stall’s management promptly apologized to Wei, offering her a full refund. The stall manager, identified only as Huang, assured that the incident was taken very seriously and comprehensive steps would be adopted to prevent any recurrence, emphasizing the importance of safety in handling combustible materials.
