It seems like a scene from a horror movie involving a lift that has a life of its own.

An Indonesian maid had the fright of her life inside a lift in Ang Mo Kio when it went out of control and shot up 17 floors suddenly.

The incident on Monday evening (March 7) put Ms Evi Lisnawati, 36, in a desperate situation which became more agonising for her when she was then trapped in the elevator for about an hour and a half, reported Lianhe Wanbao.

Ms Evi, 36, entered the lift on the fifth storey at Block 317 in Ang Mo Kio Street 31 at about 7.15pm as she had to pick up her employer’s two children.

When the elevator reached the ground floor, it opened its doors but only partially. Then they closed back, she told Lianhe Wanbao.

She pressed the “door open” button but the function did not work. Instead, the lift moved up to the third floor and stopped for about two seconds, she said.

Then it shot up very quickly to the 20th floor, said Ms Evi in the Chinese newspaper’s report.

She slumped on the floor after being “thrown in the air” as it stopped suddenly. It then descended a little, hovering between the 19th and 20th storeys.

She dropped her mobile phone when she fell but used it to call her employer to tell her what had happened. Residents, who could see her legs through the lift doors, tried to help at around 7.30pm. But could not force the doors open, she said.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) managed to free her with the help of a lift technician by 9pm.

Although she still felt some pain, she refused to go to the hospital. The experience was so traumatic that she could not sleep until late on Monday night.

A spokesman from the Ang Mo Kio Town Council told The Straits Times that it is investigating the incident.

chenj@sph.com.sg

Lift in Ang Mo Kio shot up 17 floors

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

Lianhe Wanbao, The New Paper

SINGAPORE – SPH Gift of Music is back this year with a total of 20 concerts with two kicking off the series on Mar 10 and 13.

This free community concert series that celebrated its 10th anniversary last year will offer a diversity of musical genres at different locations across Singapore such as parks, heartlands, shopping malls, concert halls and Esplanade.

Sponsored by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), SPH Gift of Music 2016 will showcase various groups including the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO), Singapore Lyric Opera (SLO), Orchestra of the Music Makers (OMM), The Philharmonic Winds, Singapore Wind Symphony, Ding Yi Music Company, SYC Ensemble Singers and the Esplanade.

Kicking off the series will be two concerts by SSO this month. The national orchestra will perform a lunchtime concert at 12.30pm on Mar 10 at Victoria Concert Hall and an evening concert at 6.30pm on Mar 13 at Gardens by the Bay.

Fans of classical music will be treated to a beautiful programme of famous waltzes and dances through the ages by well-loved composers Bach, Strauss, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and “Yumeiji’s Theme” from Wong Kar-Wai’s award-winning movie In the Mood for Love. The two concerts will be conducted by Jason Lai.

The SCO, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, will perform a series of community concerts at various parts of Singapore including Dakota Crescent, Nee Soon South, Hong Lim Park and Singapore Conference Hall.

This year’s Opera in the Park by SLO, on Jun 4, will commemorate William Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary with a special programme comprising operas and musicals based on the works written by the great English poet and playwright.

The music series will also bring back two well attended festivals, namely Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts from Aug 4 – 7 and Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts from Nov 18 – 27 at the Esplanade which will feature an exciting selection of classical to contemporary performances by Malay and Indian artistes in Singapore and the region.

Other highlights this year include Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir in the Park at Singapore Botanic Gardens onSep 3, choral performances by the SYC Ensemble Singers at National Gallery on Nov 26, Beethoven at the Movies by OMM on Dec 10, as well as community concerts by The Philharmonic Winds, Singapore Wind Symphony and Ding Yi Music Company.

SPH Gift of Music was first launched on May 1, 2005 as a musical gift to the nation with a concert by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Since then, it has grown in scale and popularity, and has helped many local musicians showcase their talent and expand their reach.

Visit SPH Gift of Music’s website for the full list concerts.