Changi Beach: Massacre, Executions and Haunting

Changi Beach, Singapore

Changi Beach is an idyllic stretch of white sand, clear water and is dotted with palm trees. While its appearance looks pristine and inviting, its history tells a different story.

WWII lead to Singapore becoming occupied by the Japanese. The war was to trigger many terrible events including the Sook Ching Massacre, which was arguably one of the most heinous to occur in Singapore. The name of this massacre literally translates to ‘cleansing purge’ and resulted in the executions of many Chinese people within Singapore.

Although the Sook Ching Massacre saw many executed in various places, the death total at Changi Beach reached 66. These 66 men were all killed together. They were tied to one another and forced to walk across the beach towards the water. As they hit the water’s edge, they were gunned down in a vicious manner. Those who did not die from their gunshot wounds were left to drown in the water. To complete this horrid process, all of the victims’ bodies were recovered and hacked apart with the use of bayonets, fully ensuring death.

The bodies of these unfortunate Chinese men were buried in nearby mass graves, dug out by prisoners of war. This dark event has stained the history of this area and led to the belief that the stretch of beach its surrounding areas may, in fact, be haunted.

Ghosts of Changi Beach

Visiting the site of such a terrible massacre is enough to send chills down anyone’s spine. Some people have, however, reported far more spine chilling phenomena to occur in this area.

Many claim that Changi Beach is one of the most haunted places in the country. There have been countless reports of visitors to the beach experiencing strange, unexplainable sounds. These are typically described as weeping, wailing, screaming or crying out for help. There have also been the phantom sounds of gunshots echoing across the empty stretches of sand.

Visual phenomena have also been said to occur. Some have seen eerie puddles of blood form and pool amongst the grains of sand that cover Changi Beach. These appear without an identifiable source and tend to disappear quickly after being spotted. In addition to the blood stains along the beach, many have also claimed to spot bizarre apparitions that seem fitting to the circumstances of the massacre. Some people have claimed to witness the heads of Chinese men either bobbing aimlessly in the water or even flying at speed across the shoreline. Headless bodies have also been spotted by some walking the same stretch of beach that they were likely executed upon.

Interestingly there have even been others who have claimed to sight what can only be described as the actual executions taking place. This is thought to be trapped energy resulting in a residual haunting and basically showcases scenes that are doomed to replay throughout time.

Whilst there appear to be significant levels of paranormal activity occurring in the area where the massacre happened, further reports of hauntings surrounding this area exist. Some of the beach houses in the area are reportedly haunted by violent entities. Some visitors to these properties have allegedly experienced poltergeist activity or been scratched aggressively. There are also reports of a woman in white who prowls the area, often crying in pain as if having just lost a loved one.

Visiting Changi Beach

Changi Beach is a beautiful place to visit in Singapore, despite its blood-soaked history. A marker displaying information about the beach’s massacre can be located on the beachfront, across from various food establishments and bars. Entry is free and the area is accessible via bus routes from the city.

If you are interested in learning about other haunted places with ties to WWII in Asia, I recommend checking out Malinta Tunnel in the Philippines.

Thanks for reading!

xoxo