Gondola passengers at Raffles City Tower successfully retrieved following entrapment incident
On Monday, July 21, 2025, a dramatic incident unfolded at Raffles City Tower on North Bridge Road, Singapore, when two workers became stranded on a gondola that was left dangling outside the building.
The incident occurred around 11:20 AM, and it is believed that the gondola became stranded due to a broken steel cable or a snapped metal cable securing the gondola during exterior cleaning works. The gondola was located between the 28th and 29th floors of the tower.
Fortunately, both workers were wearing body harnesses, ensuring their safety during the rescue operation. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded promptly to the height rescue incident, and upon arrival, SCDF firefighters checked the gondola's stability and the workers' condition.
The Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) set up rescue equipment on the 29th and 30th floors. Safety lines were used to secure the gondola before a DART rescuer descended onto the gondola to rescue the workers. The rescuer secured the workers and brought them into the building through windows on levels 29 and 30.
Following the successful rescue, both workers were assessed by an SCDF paramedic and taken to Raffles Hospital in a stable condition. The SCDF's update on the incident did not indicate any changes in the workers' condition or the gondola's stability.
The incident highlights the importance of safety equipment and rapid response in such situations, ensuring the workers were rescued safely without major injuries. The SCDF's update on the incident was shared via a Facebook post, providing information about the gondola's stability and the workers' condition.
The SCDF's focus during the assessment was on the condition of the stranded workers, and the rescue operation took place at the location between the 28th and 29th floors of Raffles City Tower. The SCDF did not provide any details about the rescue operation's duration or outcome, nor did they mention any additional rescue operations.
In conclusion, the swift action of the SCDF ensured the safe rescue of the two workers from the gondola at Raffles City Tower, demonstrating the importance of having a well-prepared and responsive emergency service in such high-risk situations.
In light of the incident at Raffles City Tower, it is apparent that workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness precautions, such as the use of safety equipment, played a crucial role in ensuring the two workers' safety during the rescue operation. Meanwhile, the outcome of this general-news event underscores the significance of a swift response from emergency services like the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) in managing accidents and safeguarding individuals in high-risk situations.
