According to local radio reports, the incident, which occurred between 04:00 and 05:00 p.m. local time on Saturday afternoon, caused quite a commotion.
Something like an explosion sound very loud, then after that some of the pieces fell off the Merlion, but no one was hurt in the incident, one witness was quoted as saying.
The explosion, caused by the lightning, created a hole, the size of a soccer ball, on the Merlion, one of five Merlions in the country.
The 8.6-meter-tall statue was originally located at the mouth of the Singapore River, but was moved to the Merlion Park in downtown in 2002.
source : http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/28/content_10918725.htm