Heavy rain in eastern, central Singapore causes flash floods

Today Online 21 Oct 13;

SINGAPORE — Heavy rain over the eastern and central parts of Singapore yesterday afternoon resulted in flash floods in several locations.

According to the PUB, a total of 77 millimetres of rain was recorded at the Kim Chuan rain gauge from 4.20pm to 6.40pm, of which, 60.2mm fell over 30 minutes from 5.05pm. Flash floods, reported in seven locations, subsided within 30 minutes, except for the flood at Arumugam Road which subsided within one hour, said the PUB.

In four locations — Paya Lebar Road, the Service Road off Upper Paya Lebar Road, Arumugam Road and Ubi Ave 2, and Eunos Crescent — the flash floods occurred because the Geylang River was flowing full during the storm. Drainage improvement work to upgrade the river is on-going and is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of next year.

The three other locations that experienced flash floods were the junction of Macpherson Road and Harvey Road, the Pan-Island Expressway slip road at Stevens Road Exit, and Thomson Road.

The PUB said it has scheduled drainage improvement work at Harvey Road and Thomson Road. Detailed design for the drainage work will be carried out next year.

Last week, several areas in the eastern parts of Singapore were hit by flash floods following pre-dawn thundery showers. The intense showers also caused some damage to Pasir Ris Polyclinic.

Last month, severe flash floods forced the closure of part of the Ayer Rajah Expressway.

Heavy rain causes flash floods
Channel NewsAsia 20 Oct 13;

SINGAPORE: Heavy rain caused flash floods in eastern and central Singapore on Sunday evening.

National water agency PUB said heavy rain fell over eastern and central parts of Singapore from 4.20pm to 6.40pm.

Total rainfall of 77mm was recorded at Kim Chuan rain gauge from 4.20pm to 6.40pm, of which 60.2mm fell from 5.05pm to 5.35pm.

Flash floods were reported at the following locations:

- Paya Lebar Road under PIE-Paya Lebar flyover;

- Service Road off Upper Paya Lebar Road (near Lim Teck Boo Road);

- Arumugam Road and Ubi Ave 2;

- Eunos Crescent;

- Junction of MacPherson Road and Harvey Road;

- PIE (towards Changi Airport) slip road at Stevens Rd Exit; and

- Thomson Road near Novena Rise.

PUB said the flash floods subsided within 30 minutes, except for the flood at Arumugam Road which subsided within one hour.

The first four locations were affected as Geylang River was flowing full during the storm.

PUB has ongoing drainage improvement works to upgrade the stretch of Geylang River which serves these areas.

The drainage improvement work is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2014.

PUB has also scheduled drainage improvement works at Harvey Road and Thomson Road.

- CNA/ir

Flash floods hit eastern and central parts of Singapore
Straits Times 21 Oct 13;

HEAVY rain yesterday afternoon caused flash floods in the eastern and central parts of Singapore.

A spokesman for the PUB, the national water agency, said that total rainfall of 77mm was recorded at Kim Chuan rain gauge from 4.20pm to 6.40pm, of which 60.2mm fell from 5.05pm to 5.35pm.

Flash floods lasting 30 minutes to one hour were reported at the following locations:

Paya Lebar Road (under PIE-Paya Lebar flyover)
Service Road off Upper Paya Lebar Road (near Lim Teck Boo Road)
Arumugam Road and Ubi Avenue 2
Eunos Crescent
Junction of Macpherson Road and Harvey Road
PIE (towards Changi Airport) slip road at Stevens Road Exit
Thomson Road (near Novena Rise)
The first four locations were affected as Geylang River was flowing full during the storm. Ongoing drainage improvement work in the area is expected to be completed by end-2014.

Around MacPherson MRT station, at the junction of Paya Lebar Road and Ubi Avenue 2, buses were stranded for over an hour.

Students Paul Tan, 19, and Michelle Ang, 18, were on their way to visit a temple in MacPherson when the bus they were on ran into a flooded stretch of road.

"Rainwater was covering the kerb so you couldn't see where the road was or where to drive," said Mr Tan.

On nearby Arumugam Road, construction worker Du Zhi You, 35, said floodwater reached up to the headlights of parked cars.

"The water was too deep so I went to the next road where the water was shallower," he said.

Water also flowed into Cheng Hong Siang Tng Kew Huang Keng Combined Temple at the end of the road, a caretaker there said.

JOANNA SEOW