One thing us Singaporeans have been waiting for – where are the 10 locations where the annual pyrotechnics will be displayed?
Here they are:
- Ang Mo Kio
- Bishan
- Buona Vista
- Lakeside Garden at Jurong Lake Gardens
- Marina Reservoir
- Punggol
- Sembawang
- Tampines
- Woodlands
- Yew Tee
But where exactly in the neighbourhood areas, the NDP Committee will not reveal. We think it’s a wise move to prevent the public from bringing their mother, father, sister, brother, ah gong, ah ma, helper, dog, and 20 relatives to gather at the locations.
And if you’re thinking about heading down to the “prime” spots like Marina Bay area, you should drop the idea because it will be closed to the public.
"Singaporeans traditionally gather at Marina Bay and Marina Barrage to watch the fireworks, but I hope that Singaporeans can understand that under the Covid-19 circumstances, we are not going to allow people to gather in large groups to watch the fireworks," says COL Lek Seng Khoon, Deputy Chairman of the NDP2020 Executive Committee and Chairman of the NDP2020 Safety and Security Committee.
"At just this location itself, we will deploy about 300 personnel to ensure the safety of the public and to turn people away if they turn up."
The next question you’re probably thinking about is, “will I be able to see the fireworks if my neighbourhood isn’t on the list?”
First, let’s talk numbers. The height of the fireworks ranges anywhere from 43m to 220m (that is, between 15 to 62 storeys), and the diameter of the burst ranges from 45 to 200m. The range from which the fireworks are visible is between 1 to 8km.
So this means that if you’re living in Hougang, you will still have a chance of catching the fireworks that will be launched from Ang Mo Kio and Punggol.
Military Expert 6 Ben Tan, Chairman of the NDP2020 Fireworks Committee also comments that, "Because of the height and boom size of the fireworks, people further west (in Jurong West, Boon Lay and Pioneer), those in the north (in Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang), to the south (in Teban Gardens) and to the east (Clementi and West Coast) will have a fairly high chance to catch the fireworks from their homes.”
What about safety measures? Covid distancing measures aside, many steps have been put in place to ensure the safety of organisers and spectators alike.
"In terms of our precautions, firstly, there’s a physical presence at all the sites. We work closely with the stakeholders of each site and also partnered with the Singapore Police Force, with the Safe Distancing Task Force as well as ambassadors and enforcement officers on the ground," says Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Enriquez, Chairman of the NDP2020 Fireworks Security Committee.
"They will be there to facilitate pedestrian traffic, control entry where necessary, and guide members of the public to adhere to the Covid-19 safe management measures and also the safety measures to all the danger areas."
"The safety and wellbeing of the public is always of the utmost importance," says LTC Enriquez.
"We must ensure there’s an exclusion zone from the immediate danger areas of the fireworks site. We must ensure that we protect the public and our organising forces from that exclusion zone before the fireworks can even be launched."
Finally, COL Lek adds, "We encourage Singaporeans to celebrate National Day with their families at home. In the event that Singaporeans wish to go out to participate in the event outdoors, we urge that you put on a mask, and observe safe distancing."