4 days after the Nicoll Highway collapse, the search for the last construction worker believed trapped under the collapsed section of Nicoll Highway has been called off.

Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng announced at a 7pm press conference that it was ending the search for Mr Heng Yeow Peow, a foreman of the construction site for the Mass Rapid Transit's Circle Line.

Mr Wong said it was a painful and agonising decision that had to be made because further work could endanger the stability of the surrounding area.

Counsellors and MPs gather to help the missing foreman's family cope with the decision to call off the search for his body.

As a fellow Singaporean, I feel sad for the family. Mr Heng performed an heroic act and yet now, his body can't even be found for a proper burial. I used to pass by Nicoll Highway everyday while on assignments for my last company and it never occured to me the dangers of working underground at a construction site. Perhaps some people would consider it a blessing that the casualty number is limited to 4, a small case compared with huge events such as the 911 incident, but for the families of the 4, that's no consolation.

Kudos to the rescue workers.

# posted by Shopaholic : 4:58 PM