Grandmother and Toddler Only Inches Away When Floor Tiles of HDB Flat Suddenly Exploded

A grandmother and her grandchild were in for a shock when the floor tiles in their flat cracked and exploded. The incident was captured on video with loud snapping noises heard in the footage right before the floor suddenly shattered to pieces. 

The events that happened during that day were shared on Facebook by the homeowner, Fauzi Hussin, on Sunday (23 January). The post mused how "this can happen to anyone".

Floor Tiles Cracking and Suddenly Explode with Grandmother and Toddler Inches Away

On Saturday (22 January) night, the homeowner's wife, toddler, and mother-in-law were at home while he was at work. It was during that time when the tiles of their HDB flat in Tampines Street 45 exploded. 

Before they even shattered, audible cracking sounds could be heard in the unit. To inspect the snapping sounds, the homeowner's mother-in-law walked to the living room where the toddler sat in a pram while watching television. 

In the video footage, the grandmother can be seen trying to find the source of the loud popping sounds. Just as she stood next to her grandson, the floor tiles next to them exploded.

Both grandmother and toddler were startled by the floor tiles suddenly shattering. The toddler's mum also rushed into the living room to see what had happened. 

Afterwards, the three of them left the flat as they thought the building was about to collapse. According to the homeowner, they quickly grabbed their stuff and evacuated the flat. This was a reminder he always gave them while he was at work.

Thankfully, no one was reported injured from the incident. 

HDB Says They are Not Responsible For Damages

The homeowner gave an update on Monday (24 January) regarding the incident. He said he had informed HDB about the incident, but they are apparently not liable for the damages. This is because he bought the flat off the open resale market.

On the same day, an HDB officer went to the unit and arranged for a housekeeping service from HDB Tampines Branch where they can oversee the clearing up of the debris of the broken tiles.

He will also be submitting an insurance claim for the damages. However, investigations need to be carried out first. 

From this incident, the homeowner learned that resale flat buyers are responsible for getting their checks on their homes. He also said they should also engage with a qualified person or surveyor to get the floors checked at their own cost.

"Moving forward, I hope our situation can create awareness and help others understand or react to such situation," he wrote in his post.

Tile Cracks Safety Tips For Parents To Take Note of

Floor tiles cracking can be really dangerous, especially if you have kids around your home. They can cause minor or even severe injuries if you're not too careful. So here are a few safety tips to keep in mind when you have a cracked tile at home:

1. Do not let children walk near the cracked floor.
   Even the smallest of cracks can scrape your child's foot so make sure to keep them away from any broken tiles.
2. While waiting for them to be replaced, cover the cracked tile area.
   Put over a piece of cardboard or tape the edges of the cracked tiles to prevent any injuries. 
3. Clean and sweep the cracked tile area thoroughly. 
   Don't leave any stray pieces around or sharp shards that your child might accidentally step on. 
4. Be on the lookout for other floor tiles around the house that could possibly start cracking as well.
   Check for uneven subfloor as early as now to prevent any more cracked tiles.
5. Arrange for replacement tiles as soon as possible. 
   Keep your home safe for you and your family by resolving the issue right away. 

Lead image source from Facebook / Fauzi Hussin.

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