Their courage in the face of danger has drawn viral admiration – and calls for greater recognition of the city state’s migrant workforce.
Spotting smoke billowing from the building in the River Valley area on Tuesday morning, the construction workers moved swiftly, grabbing scaffolding and a ladder.
Without the use of safety harnesses, they scaled the building to rescue children trapped by the flames on a third-storey ledge.
“I took the step ladder and put it here, and … went to the roof” said Shakil Mohammad, one of the workers, in an interview with CNA. “I caught the baby and passed to my friend. One by one, I brought them down.”
Ramesh Kumar, another worker involved in the daring rescue, said: “It’s not just us two, another person also helped, but I don’t know who. At that time, many came to help, but we don’t know who.”
