Tragedy as young Aussie girl, 10, dies after fire erupts inside a cooking school in Singapore

By CAITLIN POWELL FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 00:51 BST, 10 April 2025 | Updated: 01:20 BST, 10 April 2025

A 10-year-old Australian girl has tragically died after a fire tore through a cooking school in Singapore. 

Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) was called to a shophouse on River Valley Road in the north of the city on Tuesday about 9:45am local time.

‘The fire was raging on the second and third floors,’ a spokesperson said in a statement on social media.

‘Several persons were on a ledge outside the third-floor unit.’

Terrifying footage of the fire showed many children sitting on the window ledge with their legs dangling, preparing to jump if they needed to. 

About 80 people were evacuated by police and the Defence Force, with 20 of them being taken to hospital.

At least 15 of the casualties were children and among them was a 10-year-old girl who died from her injuries in hospital.

A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed on Wednesday that the young girl was an Australian citizen.

Singapore Civil Defence Force and emergency services were called to a building that belongs to a cooking school after reports of a blaze

Singapore Civil Defence Force said several people were stuck on a ledge on a shop’s third floor as a fire tore through the building

‘The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian who died in Singapore,’ they told 7News. 

‘We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time.’

Daily Mail Australia has contacted DFAT for comment.

Members of the public assisted the rescue effort, including construction workers who brought over scaffolding to help people clamber down to street level.

One worker, Shakil Mohammad, told The Straits Times he was inside a neighbouring building when he heard screams.

‘The children wanted to jump. I told them, “Don’t jump! I will help you”,’ he said.

‘The fire was so hot. But I die, no problem, I just needed to save the children.’ 

SCDF rescued the remaining people stuck on the ledge while firefighters extinguished the blaze within 30 minutes.

The preliminary findings of an investigation by the force suggested the fire likely started in a storage area on the second floor. 

Anyone found responsible could face a hefty fine of thousands of dollars or two years in prison (a firetruck is seen outside the shophouse after the flames were extinguished)

‘Preliminary investigations also found fire safety non-compliances, including unauthorised works involving the erection of partitions within the premises,’ a spokesperson said.

Investigations into the cause are ongoing. Anyone found responsible for breaches of fire regulations could face a fine of up to S$200,000 (about AUD$242,645), imprisonment of up to 24 months, or both.

The building’s address belongs to Tomato Cooking School, which runs an Easter Holiday Camp for children between the age of six and 12.

Daily Mail Australia is not implying any wrongdoing by the school regarding the cause of the fire.

The company released a statement on Wednesday via social media, saying it is ‘deeply saddened and shocked by the fire’. 

‘Our thoughts are with all the families and individuals affected during this difficult time. The circumstances that led to the fire is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities. We are providing our full cooperation and assistance

‘We kindly ask for respect and privacy for the affected families as the investigation progresses. We cannot express our sadness in words for the affected families and what they are going through.’

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the company for an update.

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Tragedy as young Aussie girl, 10, dies after fire erupts inside a cooking school in Singapore

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