Lightning strikes the Merlion at Fullerton - SGClub Forums

sgcomics · 28-02-2009, 11:09 PM

The original Merlion statue located at One Fullerton was struck by lightning this afternoon, causing quite a commotion.

Claire Huang caught up with some witnesses to find out what happened.

Nature sure knows how to throw a tantrum.

In its fit of anger, Singapore's longstanding original icon - the Merlion, was damaged by lightning flashes.

23 year-old Ms Swee Xueping who was having lunch with 5 other friends said the incident caused a stir.

"So we were actually sitting at Coffeebean, and then we were buying (food) and then we heard a loud thunder sound. Then we saw the lightning which was quite, it's kind of orangey and then there was a commotion, and we heard a loud noise, but we didn't know what actually happened. We were just wondering how come there's this big commotion."

A staff who wants to be known only as Mr Yap said the incident happened between 4 and 5pm.

Mr Yap who works in a shop a few metres away from the damaged statue, describes how some passersby who were stranded in the rain, dashed into the restaurant for cover.

"Something like an explosion sound, very loud. Then after that some of the pieces fell off the Merlion. All the people under the umbrella (3 parasols) ran in, towards our shop. They were scared that there'll be another thunder (lightning) strike."

Mr Yap's colleague Ms Toh said she didn't realise that the lightning had struck the statue until a customer drew her attention to it.

"I heard the thunderstorm and I saw many of the customers running into our outlet. I just heard from a customer then noticed "Hey, why the Merlion's head dropped?""

The explosion, caused by the lightening, created a hole the size of a soccer ball, on the Merlion.
But according to eye witnesses, no one was hurt.

In fact, many passersby and tourists didn't even notice the rubble on the walkway.

The statue is one of five Merlions in Singapore.

The 8.6 metre tall statue was originally located at the mouth of the Singapore River but was moved to Fullerton in 2002.

**hansheng** · 28-02-2009, 11:12 PM

everyone is talking about it...was it a bad sign?O.o

**princess-selina** · 28-02-2009, 11:13 PM

Wow , it's dangerous . Any pictures for this news ?

**bigeyebrow** · 28-02-2009, 11:16 PM

wow.. fierce..

**TakeshiXkun** · 28-02-2009, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by princess-selina

Wow , it's dangerous . Any pictures for this news ?

i saw the merlion in the news on tv..seems like got a dent on top of the merlion and below got a hole...

**Arakai** · 28-02-2009, 11:22 PM

bad omen for singaporeans

**claraguigui** · 28-02-2009, 11:24 PM

Omgggg

Merlion ~ got wound on the head . gptta to heal him up ~

**SuzukiSuzume** · 28-02-2009, 11:26 PM

Same, saw it on TV. there's like this square-ish damage in the middle of the merlion body and there's a big piece of it on the floor. The image was quite blur so I couldn't really see in detail what the damage was.

Hope this is not some kind of bad sign. ;x

Suzume

**shypineapple** · 28-02-2009, 11:45 PM

well. maybe it's a wake-up call by god? :/

**Fujiwari** · 01-03-2009, 02:14 AM

First landmark here to be hit by lightning from all i can recall lol. Hope they repair it fast, Tourist coming and going :o

**orange123** · 01-03-2009, 02:18 AM

wow,still got the small merlion there. first time in history merlion got hurt

**kdwdybswy** · 01-03-2009, 02:23 AM

Any source?

I done some research some say it's rumour as that piece don't know whether is drop from the head or not because no one can see.

Well guess will have to wait for tml's newspaper.

[img=http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2610/damaged20merlion.jpg]
[img=http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/damaged20merlion.jpg/1/w480.png]

Tried alot of ways but the picture just can't be shown here so I place the link

**orange123** · 01-03-2009, 02:33 AM

check this
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_344382.html
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...412182/1/.html
they also dun have much detail
but got photo anyway

**UnknownKiller** · 01-03-2009, 07:15 AM

I heard something like someone going x.X. ops =X

**chowychow** · 01-03-2009, 07:24 AM

A bad omen

**vertexdisk** · 01-03-2009, 10:24 AM

1st the wheel of fortune - they change the direction of the wheel so that it'll bring in fortune , but it stop ...... ...

2nd the merlion - ppl decided to change it's location , but it got strck by ligtling at its new home ......

"more good years" become "prepare for the worst" .........

**huage** · 01-03-2009, 11:14 AM

looks like a bad omen for singapore!

but it could be gd sign too...maybe its the time to change the status to new one...get prepair it fast!

**xiaowen88** · 01-03-2009, 11:20 AM

i guess its not a gd sign for singapore..

**FBI** · 01-03-2009, 11:22 AM

jus like how recession hit us.

**PECTOPAH** · 01-03-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgcomics

The original Merlion statue located at One Fullerton was struck by lightning this afternoon, causing quite a commotion.

Claire Huang caught up with some witnesses to find out what happened.

Nature sure knows how to throw a tantrum.

In its fit of anger, Singapore's longstanding original icon - the Merlion, was damaged by lightning flashes.

23 year-old Ms Swee Xueping who was having lunch with 5 other friends said the incident caused a stir.

"So we were actually sitting at Coffeebean, and then we were buying (food) and then we heard a loud thunder sound. Then we saw the lightning which was quite, it's kind of orangey and then there was a commotion, and we heard a loud noise, but we didn't know what actually happened. We were just wondering how come there's this big commotion."

A staff who wants to be known only as Mr Yap said the incident happened between 4 and 5pm.

Mr Yap who works in a shop a few metres away from the damaged statue, describes how some passersby who were stranded in the rain, dashed into the restaurant for cover.

"Something like an explosion sound, very loud. Then after that some of the pieces fell off the Merlion. All the people under the umbrella (3 parasols) ran in, towards our shop. They were scared that there'll be another thunder (lightning) strike."

Mr Yap's colleague Ms Toh said she didn't realise that the lightning had struck the statue until a customer drew her attention to it.

"I heard the thunderstorm and I saw many of the customers running into our outlet. I just heard from a customer then noticed "Hey, why the Merlion's head dropped?""

The explosion, caused by the lightening, created a hole the size of a soccer ball, on the Merlion.
But according to eye witnesses, no one was hurt.

In fact, many passersby and tourists didn't even notice the rubble on the walkway.

The statue is one of five Merlions in Singapore.

The 8.6 metre tall statue was originally located at the mouth of the Singapore River but was moved to Fullerton in 2002.

"then we heard a loud thunder sound. Then we saw the lightning " LOL

"They were scared that there'll be another thunder (lightning) strike" another big LOL