K.F. Seetoh’s brother dies in suspected gas explosion at Tuscany holiday home

A sibling of veteran food critic K.F. Seetoh has died in a suspected gas explosion at his holiday home in Tuscany. Earlier, Italian media reported that an explosion at a villa in Molazzana, Italy, on the night of 21 December, killed a Singaporean man and left his Taiwanese partner missing. Local authorities suspect that the incident was caused by a gas leak, which led to the collapse of the house. Seetoh Kwok Meng, 68, was at the villa with his wife, Chang Kai En, a Taiwanese national, when the disaster struck late that night. Seetoh’s body was found under the rubble the following morning. Rescue workers were still searching for the body of Ms Chang, 52, on 23 December.

K.F. Seetoh Mourns Brother’s Tragic Passing in Tuscany Explosion

K.F. Seetoh, who is also the founder of the local food guide Makansutra and the curator of the Urban Hawker food centre in New York City, confirmed the couple’s deaths in a Facebook post late on 23 December. He described his brother, Seetoh Kwok Meng, as “the most jovial” among his siblings and revealed that he had found a peaceful retirement home and life in Tuscany with his second wife, Ms Chang. According to K.F. Seetoh, Ms Chang was particularly fond of her garden, which their neighbours would tend to whenever the couple travelled to Singapore. He shared that his brother had purchased the solid stone house a few years ago from their tour guide while holidaying in Tuscany.

“I regret I never found the chance to visit and ‘eat fruits off the tree’. It was on my bucket list. That century-old stone house came down like a deck of cards upon explosion and death was instantaneous for both of them."

He added, “Of course I will miss them all. Rest in peace Ah Meng and Kai En.”

Mr K.F. Seetoh also expressed his family’s shock at the tragedy, saying, “Frankly, we are all still in disbelief. He had planned to return next month for Chinese New Year celebrations.”

Emergency Teams Intensify Search Efforts for Missing Woman

According to Italian news outlet Il Tirreno, the explosion occurred shortly after the couple returned from a Christmas dinner. Chang, is believed to have entered the house first, while Seetoh lingering outside. Emergency responders, including firefighters and civil protection volunteers, are continuing the search for Chang. Authorities revealed that the villa’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank, located outside the house, did not catch fire. The boiler, also situated externally, remained intact. Initial investigations indicate the explosion was caused by a gas pocket accumulating inside the villa. “The explosion caused the perimeter walls to be cut and the floors to collapse,” said a fire department official. Italian news site La Nazione reported that when emergency teams arrived, they found the villa completely destroyed, with some sections still ablaze. Clothing and furniture were scattered across the area, with some garments caught in nearby tree branches. Photos of the aftermath show the villa’s roof resting on rubble piles, as rescuers comb through debris. The couple, who had planned to spend Christmas in Molazzana, were well-known and liked by locals. According to Mayor Andrea Talani, the pair had a strong bond with the community, despite language barriers. “They were known and well-liked by everyone,” he said, as quoted by Corriere Fiorentino. Mr Seetoh, according to his LinkedIn profile, had a long career in the automotive industry. He served as Chief Operating Officer at Taiwan MotorImage since 2013 and had been with Tan Chong Motor Group since 1981. The explosion sparked a large emergency response, with dozens of firefighters, volunteers, and municipal civil protection members rushing to the site. Rescuers reported a strong smell of gas upon arrival.