Collapse
On 15 March 1986, the building rapidly disintegrated in less than a minute at about 11:25 hours, leaving little time for anyone within it to make their escape. Witnesses reported hearing explosions prior to the collapse, but the police ruled out the possibility of a bomb attack. A gas explosion was thought to be a possible cause.
The collapse was met with shock by many, including the then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who was quoted as saying that "the collapse of such a building is unprecedented."
Read more about this topic: Hotel New World Disaster
Famous quotes containing the word collapse:
“The world was a huge ball then, the universe a might harmony of ellipses, everything moved mysteriously, incalculable distances through the ether.
We used to feel the awe of the distant stars upon us. All that led to was the eighty-eight naval guns, ersatz, and the night air-raids over cities. A magnificent spectacle.
After the collapse of the socialist dream, I came to America.”
—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)
“Newspapers are unable, seemingly, to discriminate between a bicycle accident and the collapse of civilisation.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“The Roman world is in collapse but we do not bend our neck.”
—Jerome (c. 340–420)