Sentosa Development Corporation was informed by both SCDF and the event organiser of a delay to the start of the event on Wednesday afternoon.
“We took immediate action to ensure that guests were informed of the situation through signages at key locations from Sentosa Express Beach Station to the site at Palawan Green. Live updates were also provided by the organiser at event ground,” said the spokesperson.
SDC apologised for any inconvenience caused to guests. It also directed ticketholders to contact the event organiser for refunds: Steven Lau at 9455 5212 and Shiermie Bautista at shiermie85 [at] gmail.com and 84248725.
Ms Bautista told CNA that during a site inspection of the venue on Wednesday, SCDF noticed an “inadequate supply of fire extinguishers for such a big crowd”.
“We were advised to re-schedule the segment to release the tethered lanterns to another day instead,” she said, adding that existing tickets are still valid for the rescheduled event “until further notice”.
Ms Bautista is behind a similar lantern event that was supposed to have taken place on Valentine’s Day last year in Dubai’s Qudra Desert. But instead of tethers, the lanterns were to be released.
She promoted the event on her personal Facebook page in November 2022.
However, the event was later “postponed until further notice”. The Dubai Sky Lantern Festival 2023 said in a Facebook announcement that the postponement was due to “issues” with the aviation authority and that refunds would be provided.
Ms Bautista told CNA on Thursday the rescheduled Dubai event will be held on Apr 9.