A group of teenagers were allegedly seen tossing rubbish into a water feature at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) around 6:30 pm on Sep. 22, during the F1 weekend. The incident, captured on video by a Fathership reader, involved the teens, who appeared to be in secondary school, throwing bottle caps, coins, plastic bottles, and even markers into the Rain Oculus whirlpool. The Rain Oculus is a large acrylic bowl structure, 21 metres in diameter and 5.2 metres deep, designed to funnel rainwater through a whirlpool that plunges two stories to a pool below.
Background
The Rain Oculus whirlpool at Marina Bay Sands is a popular attraction, known for its impressive design and the sheer volume of water it handles. At peak flow rates, 8000 gallons per minute fall through the atrium, with 200 tons of water swirling around in the bowl. The structure is not just a visual spectacle but also a functional piece of architecture designed to manage rainwater efficiently.
Raining coins
According to the reader, the teens were competing to see who could get their items into the hole at the bottom of the bowl. A photo provided showed the structure littered with coins and at least six plastic bottles. Videos captured the teens’ voices and the clinking sound of coins being tossed into the bowl. Many other people were also crowded around the water feature, witnessing the spectacle. The reader mentioned that the boys had also started shouting the name of a popular YouTube livestreamer who was in town.
“Bro just throw yourself in lah”
As if throwing inanimate objects wasn’t enough, the teens also toyed with the idea of throwing themselves into the whirlpool. One teen suggested, “Throw my whole body inside,” and was egged on by a friend saying, “Bro, just throw yourself in lah.” Given the massive volume of water involved, this idea was highly dangerous. While no one from this group went through with the act, a similar incident occurred in 2021 when a man climbed in to retrieve his IC.
Past incidents and future implications
This isn’t the first time the Rain Oculus has been the site of reckless behaviour. In 2021, a man climbed into the whirlpool, prompting concerns about safety and the misuse of public spaces. Such incidents highlight the need for increased supervision and possibly more stringent measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The management at Marina Bay Sands may need to consider additional security or educational campaigns to inform visitors about the dangers and the importance of respecting public installations.
