The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told CNA that it received multiple calls for medical assistance at One Raffles Quay at 3.15pm on Tuesday.
SCDF initially said 15 ambulances were deployed to the scene, and 30 people who experienced symptoms of abdominal pain and vomiting had been conveyed to hospitals.
It later revised the number of ambulances deployed to 17 and updated the number of people taken to hospital to 41.
CNA understands that the patients have been sent to different hospitals including Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore General Hospital and Raffles Hospital.
“The SCDF understands from the 41 persons that they had earlier consumed food from the same source,” it said.
In its initial statement at 7.32pm, SCDF described the incident as “still ongoing”. In its update at 8.15pm, it said that all its personnel and emergency vehicles had returned to their respective fire stations and fire posts.
“WHOLE OFFICE SMELLED LIKE VOMIT”
A 28-year-old ByteDance employee told CNA on Tuesday evening that the canteen on the 26th floor, which operates from 12pm to 2pm, serves “China-style Chinese food” and is “quite popular among employees”.
“It’s a new vendor which was only recently engaged, perhaps two months ago,” said the employee, who wished to remain anonymous.
“My colleagues felt nauseous about an hour after lunch (around 3pm). Mostly vomiting and diarrhoea. The toilets were all full and there were people lying on the floor. The whole office smelled like vomit.”
The staff member added that the scene was “quite chaotic” as people vomited on the floor and in the pantry, with cleaners “rushing around the office cleaning up the mess”.
“Two of my teammates went to the hospital via SCDF, while four went to the clinic. They didn’t want to go to the hospital.”
The employee noted that those who visited the general practitioner (GP) clinic obtained a three-day sick leave.
