SINGAPORE – Three people were taken to hospital after a fire broke out in the kitchen of an HDB flat in Toa Payoh on the morning of Oct 6.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the fire, which happened at Block 63, Lorong 5 Toa Payoh, at about 9.45am.

When SCDF arrived at the scene, the kitchen in a third-floor unit was on fire. The fire was extinguished with a water jet, SCDF said.

About 50 people were evacuated from the affected block, it added.

Preliminary findings indicate that the fire was likely of electrical origin.

Among the three people taken to Singapore General Hospital, two were assessed for smoke inhalation, while the third felt unwell, SCDF said.

In photos of the incident shared with The Straits Times, plumes of black smoke can be seen billowing from the building.

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Cai Yinzhou told ST that no one was in the affected unit at the time of the incident.

He added that volunteers from the community centre and town council were already on site to assist when he arrived at about 10.30am.