On Wednesday evening, an incident occurred at the KFC outlet in City Square Mall, resulting in the collapse of a ceiling and extensive flooding throughout the basement and into the Farrer Park MRT underpass.
Reports from witnesses on social media detailed the rapid escalation of the event. A user on XiaoHongShu described the moment when water suddenly began to gush from the ceiling, forcing customers to quickly evacuate. “Just as everyone had evacuated, the ceiling collapsed,” the witness wrote, detailing how the power went out right before the structure gave way. Photographs from the scene show ceiling panels scattered across the floor and tables, with exposed wires hanging from above.
The damage was not contained to the KFC premises. The water quickly spread, with another social media user sharing a video of a large puddle forming in the basement near the Wingstop outlet. Water was seen flowing from the KFC and streaming across the mall’s floor.
The flooding was so significant that it also affected the underpass leading to the MRT station. A witness shared a photo of people walking in ankle-deep water as they attempted to enter the mall, noting that the basement was filled with “dirty-looking” water. Parts of the basement were cordoned off, and signs were placed to direct shoppers to an alternative entrance.
Eyewitness Accounts
Jazlyn, a 35-year-old shopper, was at a nearby cosmetic store when she heard the fire alarm. She later saw a woman who was “drenched from head to toe,” and learned she had been seated directly under the affected sprinkler. The woman’s account matched a social media post, confirming that her bag had been left behind in the store. Despite the murky appearance of the water, Jazlyn did not detect any foul odor.
One person, Vonne, described seeing the “brown murky water with sediments” spreading as she entered the mall. Another witness, Ryan, took photos of the aftermath, showing cleaners with mops working to clear the area, which had been cordoned off by mall staff.
Mall Management’s Response
In a Facebook post the following morning, City Square Mall’s management confirmed the incident was due to a “burst sprinkler pipe” and stated that rectification works were in progress. They reassured the public that most other outlets on Basements 1 and 2 would remain open for business. The management apologized for the inconvenience and disruptions caused by the incident.
