Traces of asbestos found on St John’s Island; campsite to be closed until mid-2019

Screengrab from Google Maps
Screengrab from Google Maps

If you were planning to make a trip to St John’s Island this year, take note that certain recreational areas will be closed until mid-2019, due to the fact that asbestos was recently discovered on the island. The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) revealed today that more than half of the island has been barricaded off after debris containing asbestos, a hazardous naturally-occurring material that can cause serious illness if inhaled over a long period of time, was found.

Singapore has banned the use of asbestos in building materials since 1989 due to health concerns.

The closure came into effect last Tuesday, Channel NewsAsia noted, just a day after samples from the campsite, lagoon, and holiday bungalow area tested positive for asbestos.

TODAY said that the public will not be allowed into these areas, and that bookings for the campsite and the monthly guided trail run by the National Parks Board have been cancelled until the site re-opens next year.

Two long-term residents of the island were quickly notified, and have since relocated to the mainland.

But the public can still access Lazarus Island via the bridge from St John’s Island, and ferry services from Marina South will continue on as usual. The rest of the island, which houses research facilities like the St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory, will not be affected.

Those who visit the island on casual day trips need not fret over their health, because asbestos typically affects individuals who inhale high levels of it over decades.

After taking over the management of the island from Sentosa Development Corp last March, SLA has been conducting maintenance and upgrading works periodically. It was on Mar. 19 that the debris was discovered.

According to SLA, the removal works will begin on Friday and are targeted to be completed by year-end. However, the source of the debris that contained asbestos has yet to be confirmed.



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