SINGAPORE: A rat infestation has been spotted in the vicinity of Bukit Batok MRT station. Simulation system operator Ryan Keith, 33, is a longtime Bukit Batok resident, and recorded a video of the rat infestation on Tuesday evening (Dec 16), at the hill just beside the train station.
“I was there for about 10 minutes and I think I saw more than 50 rats,” he told Channel NewsAsia. “This spot is near to many eateries, and rats can breed very quickly and bite through wires, so I am quite concerned.”
He said he has approached the National Environment Agency (NEA) about the problem, and they told him that “they will look into it”.
Channel NewsAsia understands that this is a plot of state land under the management of the Housing and Development Board (HDB), as an agent of the Singapore Land Authority. Channel NewsAsia has approached the HDB for comment.
When Channel NewsAsia visited the area on Wednesday evening, more than 30 rats were seen scurrying about, although residents say that the number may sometimes be higher.
The MRT station is adjacent to several food establishments, including McDonald’s and a hawker centre.
Some McDonald’s staff Channel NewsAsia spoke to said they are worried that the rats might eventually enter the restaurant.
A pack of stray dogs were also spotted near the rats’ nest. Cleaners working at the MRT station said they have seen people feeding the dogs in the evening, despite a large sign that forbids them from doing so. Residents also said that the remnants of the food given to the dogs are eventually eaten by the rats. The rats appear aggressive, and the dogs seem afraid of them.
Some residents are worried about the diseases that these rats and stray dogs may carry, and are calling for the authorities to take action.
“One day, if they run out of food, they will just go to the eateries around here. They might even run to the station and people might get bitten,” said a resident Channel NewsAsia spoke to.
Another concerned resident said: “Before, there were just a lot of stray dogs. Recently you can see a lot of mice running all over the place. I think the authorities should do something about this because there are a lot of food stalls here. It is dangerous.”
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
