SINGAPORE — Fireworks will be launched at 10 locations across Singapore including Marina Reservoir, Jurong Lake Gardens in Lakeside, Bishan, Tampines and Punggol on the evening of Singapore's 55th birthday on Sunday (Aug 9).

But the organisers of the National Day Parade (NDP) have advised Singaporeans against making a beeline for these towns as the fireworks will be visible from many homes, since they will be launched 15 to 62 storeys high into the night sky.

Safe-distancing officers will also be dispatched islandwide to prevent crowds from building.

Areas closed to the public on Aug 9 include Lakeside Garden at Jurong Lake Gardens, from 11am to 9pm, and Marina Barrage from 4pm to 9pm.

The organisers stressed that those who view the activities at public spaces must adhere to safe-distancing rules, such as wearing masks, remaining in groups of five or fewer and maintaining 1m safe distancing from one another.

People gathering in public spaces are also discouraged from singing the national anthem and reciting the pledge aloud, to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19, they added. 

For the first time in 55 years, the NDP this year will go on without a large audience.

Instead, the parade will be broadcast live and on internet platforms to households across Singapore, with a morning segment at the Padang and an evening performance at The Star Performing Arts Centre in Buona Vista.

As with previous years, fireworks will be launched to conclude the parade. This year, however, the display will be spread across 10 housing estates islandwide at around 8.20pm and will each last for about five minutes.

The locations are:

• Ang Mo Kio

• Bishan

• Buona Vista

• Jurong Lake Gardens

• Marina Reservoir

• Punggol

• Sembawang

• Tampines

• Woodlands

• Yew Tee

Military Expert 6 (ME6) Ben Tan, chairman of the NDP fireworks committee, said at a media conference on Thursday that the fireworks will be blasted about 15 to 62 storeys high into the sky and can be seen from up to 8km away.

For example, fireworks set off at Jurong Lake Gardens can be seen by residents in Pioneer, Clementi and even Bukit Batok, he added.

Asked why these 10 locations were chosen, he said that the sites were found to maximise the viewership of fireworks across the island, after organisers studied the terrain and environmental conditions extensively.

He added that sites such as plots of land that do not provide viewership or those near nature and wildlife areas and airspaces were eliminated because they pose restrictions to the launch of fireworks.

The committee has also set out sufficient distances around the fireworks launching sites to ensure public safety, and will also be using a protection system to prevent lightning risks, ME6 Tan said.

“The key consideration is the safety of the public, whereby the site will have to be sizable… such that (they) will be safe from all the fireworks’ potential debris,” he said.

Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Enriquez, chairman of the fireworks security committee, said that every firing site requires a safety radius of between less than 100m and 400m, depending on the amount of fireworks involved and how high they will be fired.

He said that as a precautionary measure, 2,000 personnel would be deployed islandwide on Aug 9.

Some 300 personnel will be deployed in the Marina Bay precinct as it is considered a hot spot for fireworks' viewing, he added.

These personnel will comprise officers from the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force, security firm Aetos and a safe-distancing task force.

ACTIVITIES TO EXPECT ON NATIONAL DAY

A morning segment — titled The Strength of Our Nation — will begin at 10am with a broadcast of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's National Day message.

This will be followed by the parade at the Padang, where the first NDP was held in 1966. President Halimah Yacob will review the parade.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) parachute team — better known as the Red Lions — will be landing in the heartlands at about 9am.

There will be an aerial display comprising a fly-past of the state flag and a “roar of unity” by F-15 fighter jets in extended passes right across the island as well as a mobile column of SAF and Home Team assets in the morning.

Thirteen vessels from the Republic of Singapore Navy and various public agencies will participate in a maritime sail-past from 10.50am to about 11.15am, and can be viewed from the Marina Barrage and the Marina South Pier.

To manage crowds and ensure safe distancing, organisers said that they will limit access for vehicles and pedestrians to areas where the activities are taking place.

Hot spots in the Marina Bay area such as Esplanade Park, Marina Barrage and One Fullerton Waterfront Promenade will be closed to the public at various times on Aug 9.

Certain roads, car parks and pedestrian walkways in that vicinity will also be closed. Both car parks at Jurong Lake Garden will be closed.