A large crowd gathered last Feb 10 to watch a dragon-themed drone show at Marina Bay which left some worried for their safety.
Staged by Marina Bay Sands (MBS), The Legend of the Dragon Gate featured 1,500 synchronised drones lighting the skies at the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade, creating an elaborate display. The 10-minutes show also runs on Feb 12 and Feb 16 to 18 at 8pm.
One woman going by Carolyn Leo took to Facebook on Feb 10 to share that “there was almost a disastrous stampede” when people tried to seek shelter inside The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands when it started raining during the show.
Leo wrote that there were “no signages”, “no queue management”, adding: “Zero announcement or security measures when the crowd started getting crushed and yelling at people to stop moving. This means zero loud hailer to inform.”
According to Leo, people were also asked to turn around and return to the crowd if they pushed through towards the exit, making for a “reverse flow” that blocked people from exiting.
“There were many children, disabled people in wheelchairs and old folks out there and they got pushed, shoved and squashed in the crowd,” she wrote.
“When the situation was already escalating instead of stopping the show, it continued, prompting people to continue to stop and block exits.”
She added that “if there was a real emergency like a fire or blast” that nobody would be able to escape as they were “all back-to-back moving an inch at a time”.
Leo was also there with her family, and wrote that her husband had to carry their daughter and she had to “forcefully make space” in front of her son to “avoid them being crushed”.
She posted that she had also filed a police report about the event.
Leo added in the comments: “My little one is traumatised by the entire ordeal.”
AsiaOne has reached out to Leo for more information.
Videos of the evening uploaded on Instagram and TikTok show The Shoppes packed with people.
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One Redditor wrote that they were at the event and added: “I can’t believe something so badly managed was allowed to take place in Singapore. And where I was seemed to be the hotspot of danger.”
According to them, people surged towards the mall when it began to rain and “a family right next to me were almost crushed”.
“It was made worse because of so many people with bikes and no path for them to get through,” they wrote. “I’m from London and been to many crowded events and never have I felt in danger for my life as I did here.”
“The open area in front of MBS where people used to sit and watch the fountain show every night has been closed off to ‘park’ the drones, thereby reducing the area where pedestrians can watch the show,” another commented.
“Therefore, people have to squeeze into a smaller area as shown.”
It was reported that around 1,000 people turned up to watch the performance.
Regie Grospe, 45, a domestic worker who has lived in Singapore for 14 years, told The Straits Times: “The rain was surprising but I enjoyed the show.”
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In response to AsiaOne’s queries, Marina Bay Sands (MBS) said that they are committed to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
A spokesperson added that as large crowds are anticipated for the upcoming drone shows, they will be deploying additional security personnel and activating their security plans for major events, such as New Year’s Day countdown, from tonight.
“We also urge members of the public to consider alternative viewing locations for the show, such as across the bay, as the 10-minute performance can be viewed across the entire 3.5km belt of the Marina Bay waterfront, with the iconic Marina Bay Sands building in the backdrop,” said the spokesperson.
The company recommended commuters to alight and depart at alternate MRT stations, such as Downtown MRT station if they’re at Mist Walk or Promenade MRT station if they’re at the Helix bridge.
Other crowd control measures MBS said it will take include the closing of mall entrances/exits on level one of The Shoppes progressively from 5pm to 10pm to avoiding overcrowding in the mall.
This article was first published on AsiaOne and republished on theAsianparent with permission.