Unsung Heroes

March 16, 1986

These men aren't sitting around waiting to catch the opening of a grand sale. They have a much more important task at hand as rescue workers at the site of the Hotel New World collapse on Mar 15, 1986. Here, they're taking a much needed breather at the site before re-joining the other 500 rescue workers who would help pull out 17 survivors from the rubble. Thirty-three people perished in the collapse, caused by a faulty structural design drawn up by unqualified draughtsmen. Not a single wall or column was left standing. Yet, tragedy never fails to bring communities together, as evidenced by the S$1.5 million raised in donations for the Hotel New World Disaster Relief Fund.