Early morning heavy rain causes flash floods in hotspots of Singapore

Hetty Musfirah Channel NewsAsia 17 Jul 10;

SINGAPORE: Heavy and intense rain on Saturday morning caused flash floods in parts of Singapore, leaving a trail of damage and disruption.

The floods were mainly in the hotspots in the eastern and central parts.

The National Environment Agency's Meteorological Services said the downpour was caused by unstable weather conditions in the region, partly brought on by Typhoon Conson.

Hours after the skies opened at about 4.40am, the damage was clear.

Traffic was affected, with congestion reported along several roads, like Braddell and Uppper Thomson Road.

Vehicles broke down while public buses went off-service.

The National Water Agency, PUB said during the two-hour downpour, some 178.4mm of rain was recorded in the central areas of Singapore while 179.6 mm of rain was recorded in the eastern areas.

That's more than the average total monthly rainfall of about 159 millimetres for July.
The downpour also brought down trees.

About 60 people who were stranded were evacuated from about 20 locations islandwide.

These include Bukit Timah Road (between Wilby Road and Maple Avenue), Jalan Haji Alias, Newton Circus, junction of Kampung Ampat and MacPherson Road, Poole Road, Jalan Taman (in St Michael's Estate), Telok Kurau and some parts of Orchard Road.

In some areas, the water was knee-high, subsiding only after 30 minutes.

Some residents along Carlisle Road said they were taken aback by the flash floods.

One resident, Jeraldine Lee said: “I woke up early in the morning and the water was everywhere. Water in front of the porch area and the water was covering half of my wheel, and I had to move my vehicle backwards a little just to make sure that no water got in.

Another resident Rosalyn Lazar said: “We have been sitting in the car until 8.25am, waiting for someone to come and help us and the water came into the car.

“The water outside was more than in the car so I could not open the door. Luckily, the windows were opened, before the engine died. Who do I call? Who do we call in such an emergency? I just felt so powerless.”

It was a similar situation over at Goodman Road, near Tanjong Katong.

Residents woke up to find car seats soaked and engines stalled.

Some waited for hours before their cars can be towed to drier ground.

Others said the flood water also knocked out power supply.

Andy Lee, resident at Goodman Road, said: “The power in the house went out. The water level reached a certain level and then tripped the power.”

Police were called in to assist at this residence.

Suzanna Chuang, resident at Goodman Road, said: "I was shocked because I have never seen so much water in the house before. Even the carpark area was flooded."

The authorities said more showers with thunder can be expected over the next few days.
PUB, Traffic Police and SCDF officers were onsite to render assistance.

PUB said its field teams and contractors have been helping residents and building management to pump out flood waters from their premises.

The gates at Marina Barrage were opened to maintain the water level at Marina Reservoir within the normal range.

PUB has advised the public to be careful as flash floods may occur in the event of heavy storms and to report any obstruction in drains or to check the flood situation.

The public can also call PUB's 24-hour Call Centre at 1800-284 6600.

The public can obtain the latest weather reports, including heavy rain warnings, by tuning in to radio broadcasts, calling NEA's weather forecast hotline at 6542 7788, visiting the NEA website or accessing Weather@SG. - CNA/vm

Flash floods in low-lying areas of Singapore receded: SCDF
Shaffiq Alkhatib Channel NewsAsia 17 Jul 10;

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Civil Defence Force says the flash floods at all affected areas have receded.

There were flash floods in several low-lying areas in Singapore as a result of heavy rain this morning.

SCDF officers evacuated some 60 people in about 20 different locations islandwide.

They include Changi Road, Telok Kurau, Bukit Timah and Chai Chee.

Most of those who were evacuated had called the authorities for assistance as they were trapped in their vehicles due to the rising flood water.

Earlier, callers contacted the MediaCorp Hotline, saying several low-lying shop houses along Changi Road and Telok Kurau were flooded.

Floods were also reported along Braddell Road, Bukit Timah and Chai Chee.

At Upper Thomson Road, Singapore Civil Defence Officers helped evacuate 20 passengers stranded from inside an SBS bus due to the flooding.

Several passengers also had to be evacuated from another bus along Bukit Timah Road.

MediaCorp understands several drivers were also stranded in their vehicles until Civil Defence officers arrived.

One caller said a fallen tree along Dorset Road caused heavy traffic congestion.

The meteorological services earlier said heavy showers with thunder and gusty winds were expected over many areas in Singapore between 6am and 7am on Saturday.

- CNA/de/jm

Floods hit Singapore again
Bryan Huang Straits Times 17 Jul 10;

HEAVY rains lashed Singapore early on Saturday morning, uprooting trees and causing flash floods in many area.

The affected areas included Braddell Road, Changi Road and Bukit Timah, where rising floodwaters stranded several drivers in their vehicles.

At the Tessarina Condo in Bukit Timah area, waters rose to knee-high, flooding the basement carpark. Some cars were almost submerged in water, prompting frantic residents to move them out to drier grounds.

Straitstimes.com reader Jerry Chan said the flooding was 'chaotic' and it was the third time in seven months, not 'once in 50 years as suggested'.

Singapore Civil Defence Force personnel also evacuated 60 people in 20 different places, including passengers who were stuck in an SBS bus along Upper Thomson Road.

There were also reports of a fallen tree along Dorset Road, which was causing traffic congestion.

Along Upper Thomson Road, shops were reported to be badly damaged, with huge fridges overturned and smashed.

There were also reports of a flooded carpark at the Delfi Orchard, which was hit by the worst flooding in 26 years in June just less than a month ago.

Parts of Kallang and Tanjong Katong were also flooded.

Ms Grace Loh, a resident of Tanjong Katong, sent pictures of her flooded home, which she called a 'shocking sight'.

Said Ms Loh: 'The flood today seems worse than what I experienced as a child in the 1980s!'

Delfi flooded again
Bryan Huang Straits Times 17 Jul 10;

AFTER being hit by the worst flooding in 26 years last month, Delfi Orchard was again flooded on Saturday morning.

A tenant of the building, Ms Shanta Sundarason, said she arrived to work to find the basement three carpark flooded with 'waist-deep' waters.

Ms Sundarason also told straitstimes.com that tenants at Orchard Towers and Palais Renaissance were 'also mopping up after the waters gushed in'.

'So much for the 'once in 50 years Freak Flood' along Orchard Road,' said Ms Sundarason.

'It would be nice for the problem to be addressed and dealt with, rather than a sweeping statement from the ministry,' she added.

In the June floods, shoppers in the prime Orchard Road area around Scotts Road had to wade to safety through swirling brown water the colour of milk tea, when heavy rain caused a huge flood. One of the worst-hit places was Liat Towers, where a new branch of Wendy's burger restaurant had opened just three days before. The restaurant had to close as $500,000 worth of furnishings and equipment was damaged by waist-high floodwaters.

Authorities later found that a drain the width of a bus near Delfi Orchard was so choked with leaves that it triggered a run-off enough to fill 20 Olympic-size swimming pools. The run-off gushed into basement shops and carparks in Liat Towers, Lucky Plaza, Delfi Orchard and Tong Building.

Losses along the shopping belt were estimated to be more than $10 million.

Heavy rain lashed Singapore early on Saturday morning, with flash floods reported in several other areas including Bukit Timah, Katong and Changi.

Businesses at Newton, Orchard Road area affected due to flash floods
Dylan Loh Channel NewsAsia 17 Jul 10;

SINGAPORE: It looks like money down the drain again for retailers at Lucky Plaza. About a month after the massive Orchard Road flood, the watery mess returns.

One owner of a shop at Lucky Plaza is a victim of yet another flood. The owner is not happy because renovations were recently completed and as a result of this, business has to stop.

Christina Lim, shop owner, Singapore Gift Centre, said: "This is very bad. I feel that the management should do something about it because this is not the first time. It happens almost every year."

It's a similar story nearby at Liat Towers.

Ng Thian Chin said: "When I came here in the morning at about 6am, the water level was very high.”

It was the same case at the yet-to-be-opened Wendy's restaurant just around the corner which was badly hit by massive flooding in Orchard Road last month.

It seems like the eatery won't be commencing business anytime soon.

Over at Newton Circus, police were managing traffic congestion as a result of flooding.

Singapore's Civil Defence Force managed to rescue those trapped in broken down vehicles. - CNA/vm

Wet start to weekend
Heavy rain partly caused by Typhoon Conson batters central, eastern S'pore
Serene Goh and Jamie Ee Wen Wei Straits Times 18 Jul 10;

The start of the weekend was ruined for Singaporeans living in low-lying parts of the country, who woke up surrounded by rainwater.

They found themselves up to waist-deep in water, the result of a downpour that began at dawn and persisted for hours until it flooded homes, shops and basement carparks.

Yesterday's storm battered the central and eastern parts of Singapore with nearly twice the force of last month's two storms, dumping between 178.4mm and 179.6mm of rainfall in just two hours over these areas.

The heaviest rainfall was between 4.40am and 6.40am, with showers easing only at about 7am.

Singapore Civil Defence Force officers were busy freeing motorists and passengers - 59 of them - stuck in cars and buses.

The usual 'hot spots' - Bukit Timah, Upper Thomson and Telok Kurau - were again awash with water, although there have been recent and ongoing efforts to improve drainage there.

Residents in Opera Estate, where a flood last took place about 10 years ago, spent their morning bailing out water from their homes and rescuing furniture.

Nicoll Highway had to be closed for 21/2 hours after a yellow flame tree fell onto the road, hitting a taxi. No one was injured.

Orchard Road, the scene of watery chaos on June 16, was less affected this time with only ankle- deep water sweeping through the Liat Towers basement.

But this flash flood, the third in a month, is trying the patience of the people affected, especially those who lost property and business in the previous floods.

Again, questions were raised about the cause of the flooding, and what the PUB was doing to alleviate the problem.

Mr Ethan Li, 27, whose chicken rice shop in Upper Thomson Road was flooded, said: 'Last month, the water level tipped over the kerb. I took it as a freak occurrence. But it's happened again and I intend to find out why.'

In a statement yesterday, the PUB said it would implement drainage improvement works in the Bukit Timah Canal between Wilby Road and Maple Avenue. It added that works were already under way at Jalan Haji Alias in Bukit Timah.

As for Marina Barrage, the gates had been opened to alleviate flooding.

The downpour was caused by the region's unstable weather, partly a fallout of Typhoon Conson, which has ravaged the Philippines and the south-eastern Chinese island of Hainan.

Unlike the June 25 storm, which was caused by a Sumatra squall, Conson's outer rain bands whipped up winds as it moved over the South China Sea, causing a flux of moisture and heat rising from the sea. This destabilises the atmosphere and eventually causes rain, explained Nanyang Technological University's climate expert Koh Tieh Yong.

While higher rainfall may be expected this year - as the region experiences the generally wet La Nina climate phenomenon - he expects the typhoon to dissipate after it lands in Vietnam.

The National Environment Agency's Meteorological Services Division's three-day outlook predicts late morning and early afternoon showers with thunder tomorrow and morning showers with thunder on Tuesday.

Until the storm clouds pass, living with volatile weather will mean making contingency plans for outdoor events.

Among the events cancelled yesterday was The Straits Times Paper Chase, a 5km run that was to be held at East Coast Park.

Organisers cancelled the inter- school event to keep its student participants out of harm's way.

Singapore's capacity to cope with heavy rainfall is likely to feature prominently in tomorrow's sitting of Parliament, as eight MPs have tabled questions for the Government to answer.

Homeowners' BIG CLEAN-UP
Muddy water ruins furniture and important documents
Serene Luo Straits Times 18 Jul 10;

Residents in Opera Estate thought they were safe from floods.

For almost 10 years since a $31-million drainage system was completed to channel away rainwater in the neighbourhood, the residents in the traditionally flood-prone area had been dry.

But they woke up yesterday to find themselves in the soup - a muddy, teh tarik-coloured concoction of leaves, rubbish and sandy rainwater that gushed into their homes.

Neighbours screamed through partitions between houses at one another to raise the alert about the waters that went up to 38cm high at some spots, while trash bins, buckets and shoes went floating down the road.

Long-time residents said it was the worst flood they have seen since the 1960s.

Two rows of families in Norma Terrace and Rienzi Street were the worst hit, with many saying their refrigerators, washing machines and other home appliances had short-circuited, and that the power in their homes had gone out.

When The Sunday Times visited, housewife Fazidah Jurimi, 39, was busy ripping open cardboard boxes and washing their contents.

The family of four was due to move out in three weeks, and had been packing their belongings into cardboard boxes, which had turned soggy in the flood and given way.

'It's now Operation Salvage,' she said.

'My new sofa that arrived two weeks ago and is still in the box is ruined. Two of my cats have now jumped onto the bed to stay dry. One of them must have run out to look for dry ground and is still missing.'

She added wryly that her next home would be in Bedok Reservoir - and on the ninth floor.

Other personal belongings destroyed included educational certificates, passports, doctor's letters and documents that residents stored in boxes under their beds, or laptops or music players that were left to charge for the night on the floor.

Said Mr Zeus Alvarico, 40: 'Even my marriage certificate was washed away when the water suddenly flowed in at around 7am, so technically, I'm now single.'

Several wondered if the Opera Estate pumping station, which is supposed to help drain away any excess rainwater, was working.

Over at Jalan Ma'mor in Balestier, resident Lester Tan, 42, had hired professional cleaners for his home.

'Everything was covered in mud. We threw out 15 to 20 pails of water. The parquet flooring is completely damaged, and a fish from the pond even made its way to the living room,' he said.

The area's town council had also sent some cleaners to the neighbourhood to help residents.

But this is the third time flooding has taken place since last month, said resident Devon Yeon, 43. 'What if it rains again tomorrow? It's not just about throwing my damaged furniture out, it's also about the time and effort that has to go into cleaning up,' he said.

A few Bukit Timah landed homes were also affected, namely those around Coronation and King's Roads, but to a lesser extent. Residents reported water entering their porches or gardens, but water stayed out of their houses.

Businesses COUNT LOSSES
Restaurant supplies soaked, live fish float away, goods damaged
Melissa Pang and Amanda Tan Straits Times 18 Jul 10;

From flipping pratas and waiting at tables, staff at The Prata House in Upper Thomson Road took to taking care of customers instead early yesterday morning.

Staff at the 24-hour eatery said the rain started at about 4.30am, and reached thigh-high level in half an hour. Up to 50 customers were stranded in the shop, as flood waters swirled around them.

'It's the worst flood in our 18 years of business. Three of our refrigerators toppled over. Forty bags of flour got wet, and 1,000 eggs were broken or floated away,' said Mr Ikbal Mohamed Ali, 55, the owner.

Nearby, Mr Gerald Chua, 34, who worked the night shift at 7-Eleven, leapt onto a counter to escape the water.

'The chillers were floating outside and cars were swinging sideways. I jumped onto the 4-D counter as I was afraid there would be electricity in the water.'

So great was the water pressure that the shutters to a few shops were badly bent and could not be opened.

More damage lay behind the closed doors.

Owner Siew Tat Boon, 49, of dim sum restaurant Hua Nam showed The Sunday Times trays of soaked glutinous rice, a damaged meat grinder machine and an empty pot that used to hold eight live snakehead fish, all of which got away during the flood.

Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice owner Ethan Li said six refrigerators, costing over $25,000, had toppled over.

At The Famous Kitchen, the damage extended beyond its Upper Thomson outlet. As this housed its central kitchen, it was unable to prepare the supply of braised meats to its four other shops at various locations.

Owner Jeffrey Foo, 49, said 16 fish and 40 crabs got away: 'Perhaps someone will be lucky enough to find them.'

Even the post office, which is a street away from the shophouses, was not spared.

Its fleet of about 60 scooters was submerged in up to 40cm of water, and technicians had to be called in to examine the vehicles. Some mail and merchandise was also damaged.

A spokesman for SingPost said it was optimistic that it will resume operations tomorrow.

While it was the first time the post office was hit by a flood, businesses at the shophouses experienced slight flooding last month. Then, water levels reached up to the ankles for some.

It was a similar story over in the east side of Singapore, which, according to the PUB, is a hot spot for floods.

Madam Karen Ong, owner of Home Plus 2000 in Changi Road, estimates her losses to be about $100,000 in damaged household fittings such as taps and kitchen sinks.

The June 25 flood was not as severe, she said, and she was set back by about $1,000.

Mr Kazem Fadakar, 46, knows her pain only too well. That day, he lost $300,000 when water seeped into his shop and destroyed the hand-made Iranian carpets that he sells. Now, he estimates another $50,000 has been lost in yesterday's flood.

It could have been more. But after the previous flood, some of the carpets had been moved to higher levels.

Cars and carparks SUBMERGED
Cluny Court basement and Bukit Timah condo carparks fill with water after heavy downpour
Bryan Toh Straits Times 18 Jul 10;

Cluny Court has a two-storey basement carpark, and both levels were flooded yesterday. As luck would have it, there was only one car parked there as the four-storey- high building consists of mostly shop units and it was early in the morning.

Mr Johann Soh, 33, a tenant since last December and the franchisee of Marble Slab Creamery on the first floor, said the previous flood on June 16 was limited to the lower basement and subsided rapidly.

But this time, it will take at least 10 pumps working and at least a day to get the carpark cleared of water, said Mr Peter Teo, a coordinator from E-tech Building Services.

Only then can other problems be fixed, like the power breakdown.

In Bukit Timah, the condominiums Gentle Reflections and Tessarina also had their carparks flooded.

A Tessarina resident, who wanted to be known only as Mrs Ho, said that she had two cars trapped in the carpark.

Mr Christopher de Souza, an MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, said a flood alarm in the Tessarina carpark went off some time around dawn after the deluge started at 4.30am.

But there was not enough time for residents to get their cars out.

He said: 'Everyone was asleep... The downpour was so great, the water flow so rapid, that they could not do much.'

He added that PUB officials had met residents of the Tessarina condominium in Wilby Road yesterday afternoon and left them a list of crest protection measures to consider.

Crests are a physical structure built on the ground level, so water will not flow into basements. It means people will have to climb a few steps before going down into a building.

PUB also said it would soon complete the widening of a drain near the property after working on it for over a month, and that it should alleviate the flooding problem somewhat.

Yesterday's rain did not spare cars on the road as well.

Service centres for auto brands Nissan, Honda and Toyota reported a significant number of car repair cases resulting from flood water damage.

One car owner, who lives in King's Road and wanted to be known only as Mr Lim, is furious.

'I just spent $40,000 sending my Porsche for repairs, and now because the floodwaters seeped into it, it can't move and I have to send it for repairs again.'

Covered drains a problem?
Straits Times 18 Jul 10;

The road in front of the shophouses along Upper Thomson Road was elevated, and its drains were covered late last year to improve the drainage system.

Shop owners in Changi Road, where waters rose to calf-level yesterday morning, said a covered drain was widened just a few weeks ago. Yet, it did not help matters in yesterday's flood.

Dr Kartika Hanafi-Tay, 39, a general practitioner at The Flame Tree Medical Centre, said: 'In the past, it rained like this and we never had a problem. I noticed that after the road works were done, the drains haven't been draining well.'

Asked if the covered drains were a problem, PUB said they were part of the Estate Upgrading Programme and the drains have been widened to ensure they can take the same capacity as before.

Ms Lee Bee Wah, deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for National Development and the Environment and a civil engineer by training, said open drains are more practical because they allow water to flow into them faster.

But she acknowledged that in land-scarce Singapore, closed ones could help double as walkways, for example.

Mr Hri Kumar Nair, an MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, said the road improvement works at the front of the Upper Thomson Road shophouses were done to minimise flooding and to improve road conditions.

He added: 'Preliminary work is being done to increase the outflow of water. The outflow drains are near the Marymount Circle Line station so it has to be done carefully. PUB is engaging consultants to do it properly, but the process has already started.'