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The Collapse of the Hotel New World
🕑 Added 2022-09-13 10:15:59 +0000 UTCAs usual, I want to highlight a couple of sources I used to make this episode. If you're interested in learning more about this disaster, these are definitely great starting points...
The National Archives of Singapore
Singapore maintains an excellent national archive, and many of the resources from it can be freely accessed online. I wasn't able to get permission to use images from the archive in the video, but they're definitely worth a look.
To find them, just go the National Archives website and search for "Hotel New World". You'll be able to find not just images of the disaster and the aftermath, but also photographs takes in and around the building before it collapsed.
The Official Accident Report
The official report into the disaster is also available online, thanks to the National Library Board of Singapore. It's a very thorough accounting of everything that took place, including more of the warning signs in the lead up to the collapse.
Reports like this can often be a little dry and difficult to read, but this one manages to be both clear and engaging - easy to understand even if you know nothing about structural engineering (much like the men who drew the plans for the Hotel New World, for example).
Haw Chong Junior College
One last note: I mention in the video that some buildings in Singapore were torn down and rebuilt in the aftermath of the disaster. One of them was a school on the campus of Hwa Chong Junior College.
The Wikipedia for the College has a section on the building, including this photograph:
It shows some of the memories written on the walls by students before the building was torn down. Although it's never ideal that a school has to be demolished for structural reasons, I thought this was an excellent way of helping students adjust and manage the change.
Comments
Fascinating Horror
It's kind of refreshing, every so often, to come across a disaster where the government response was both appropriate and relatively swift. Things do work out well sometimes!
Fascinating Horror
It really is amazing - even having read a lot about it, seeing the images and just what people had to go through to reach the last survivors is incredible
Jennifer Durham
This seems to have one of the most comprehensive government actions after the disaster.
Searching The National Archives of Singapore is a great suggestion. The pictures and drawings add much detail to this story. Especially the drawing of where the last group of survivors were located. The volunteer search team earned the awards they received.
