The much-anticipated sky lantern festival at Sentosa Island has come under scrutiny following several safety violations, leading to a disappointing turn of events for participants who were looking forward to the enchanting sight of lanterns floating in the night sky.
Safety Concerns and Organizational Failures
Authorities found that the event organizers failed to adhere to critical safety guidelines, lacking proper tethers for the lanterns, fire extinguishers, and safety marshals. These oversights led to the cancellation of the lantern release, replacing the live flames with LED lights to avoid potential hazards.
Participant Disappointment
Attendees, who paid a significant fee hoping to witness a magical lantern light-up, were met with the reality of LED candles and instructions to tie their lanterns to barricades instead of releasing them into the sky. This last-minute change left many feeling let down by the event’s failure to deliver on its promises.
Regulatory Responses
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) highlighted multiple occasions where they reminded the organizers of the necessary fire safety protocols, which were ultimately not met. The event’s deviation from planned activities also raised concerns with the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) and the Civil Authority of Singapore (CAAS), emphasizing the importance of adhering to safety standards for such events.
Conclusion
The Sentosa sky lantern festival’s failure to comply with safety measures has not only disappointed attendees but also prompted an investigation into the organizational lapses that led to this outcome, underscoring the need for stringent adherence to safety protocols in future events.
Also learn about Sentosa’s Sky Lantern Festival Faces Regulatory Hurdles.
