Mall flooded, trees felled amid thunderstorms

Channel NewsAsia 7 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE: Strong winds amid a thunderstorm on Sunday (Dec 7) saw trees toppling in various parts of Singapore and a mall in Tampines flooded.

Two levels of Tampines Mall were flooded after a heavy downpour on Sunday afternoon. Ms Chow May Kee, who called the MediaCorp hotline (68 2222 68) at about 3pm, said that the second and third floors of the mall were flooded, and there was water flowing down the staircase of the second level.

A caller who identified herself as Ms Sheryl sent photos of a tree that had fallen on a hill next to Block 2 Holland Avenue, and was blocking the walkway.

Another caller, Mr Xu, said a tree had also fallen near a flyover at Kaki Bukit Avenue 4, causing traffic to be backed up.

The National Environment Agency sent out advisories on Twitter at 3.10pm and 5pm, warning of thunderstorms with gusty wind in the afternoon and early evening over many parts of Singapore. The PUB also tweeted of high water levels at Leng Kee Road and Prince Philip Avenue.

- CNA/cy

Flooding, fallen trees as heavy rain batters Singapore
AMANDA LEE Today Online 8 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE — Heavy rain and gusty winds lashed the island yesterday, felling trees in several locations and causing brief flooding in a shopping mall.

The National Environment Agency issued warnings of heavy thundery showers with gusty wind over many parts of Singapore on Twitter in the afternoon.

PUB also posted on Twitter about high water levels at Leng Kee Road and Prince Philip Avenue.

Members of the public who called the MediaCorp hotline sent pictures of fallen trees at various locations, including an uprooted tree on a hill beside Holland Avenue Block 2 and another at Kaki Bukit Avenue 4 near a flyover.

In the east, several sections of Tampines Mall were flooded yesterday as the inlets, which were meant to channel rainwater collected from the rooftop of the mall to the external drainage, could not cope with the excessive rainwater.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, the mall’s marketing communications manager Sarah Lua said its staff noticed an overflow of water at parts of level two of the mall at about 3.10pm.

She said the unusually heavy amount of rainfall over a short period of time caused the rainwater to overflow from the rainwater inlets and some excess water flowed to small parts of the common areas on levels two and three of the shopping mall.

“We immediately cordoned off the affected areas,” said Ms Lua.

The mall resumed full normal operations at about 4.25pm after it had been entirely cleaned up, added Ms Lua.

Rain pours into Tampines Mall
AMANDA LEE Today Online 7 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE – The sudden heavy downpour this afternoon (Dec 7) caused some sections of Tampines Mall to flood as inlets meant to channel rainwater collected from the mall's roof top to external drainage could not cope with the excess rainwater.

"The unusually heavy amount of rainfall over a short period of time caused rainwater to overflow from our rainwater inlets and some excess water flowed to a small part of the common areas on Levels 2 and 3 of our mall," said Ms Sarah Lua, Marketing Communications Manager – Tampines Mall, in response to queries.

Ms Lua said the mall's staff noticed the "overflow of water" at sections of level 2 of the mall at about 3.10pm. "We immediately cordoned off the affected areas and redirected shoppers away. We mobilised our staff to mop up the floor and put dryers in the common areas. No one was hurt in the incident, although the overflowed rainwater affected several of our tenants," she said.

Tampines Mall resumed full operations at about 4.25pm after the mall was cleaned up. "We are sorry for the inconvenience caused to our affected tenants and shoppers, and are putting steps in place to prevent a recurrence," said Ms Lua.

Pictures shared on social media showed rain pouring in from the roof of the outdoor area of the mall, while large puddles of water were seen inside the mall. Twitter user @wongyuetying said the rain had been "very heavy".

A MediaCorp hotline caller, Ms Chow May Kee, 44, said she was at the SingTel shop at about 3pm, when she noticed water on the second floor. It was coming from a staircase besides Giordano, and staff were clearing the water away with a broom.

Some people who were at Tampines Mall also shared the incident on Twitter:

Rain pours into Tampines Mall
AMANDA LEE Today Online 7 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE – The sudden heavy downpour this afternoon (Dec 7) caused some sections of Tampines Mall to flood as inlets meant to channel rainwater collected from the mall's roof top to external drainage could not cope with the excess rainwater.

"The unusually heavy amount of rainfall over a short period of time caused rainwater to overflow from our rainwater inlets and some excess water flowed to a small part of the common areas on Levels 2 and 3 of our mall," said Ms Sarah Lua, Marketing Communications Manager – Tampines Mall, in response to queries.

Ms Lua said the mall's staff noticed the "overflow of water" at sections of level 2 of the mall at about 3.10pm. "We immediately cordoned off the affected areas and redirected shoppers away. We mobilised our staff to mop up the floor and put dryers in the common areas. No one was hurt in the incident, although the overflowed rainwater affected several of our tenants," she said.

Tampines Mall resumed full operations at about 4.25pm after the mall was cleaned up. "We are sorry for the inconvenience caused to our affected tenants and shoppers, and are putting steps in place to prevent a recurrence," said Ms Lua.

Pictures shared on social media showed rain pouring in from the roof of the outdoor area of the mall, while large puddles of water were seen inside the mall. Twitter user @wongyuetying said the rain had been "very heavy".

A MediaCorp hotline caller, Ms Chow May Kee, 44, said she was at the SingTel shop at about 3pm, when she noticed water on the second floor. It was coming from a staircase besides Giordano, and staff were clearing the water away with a broom.

Some people who were at Tampines Mall also shared the incident on Twitter.

More wet weather ahead after weekend deluge
JANICE HENG Straits Times 8 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE - Heavy rains and strong winds felled trees and flooded a shopping mall over the weekend, with the wet weather expected to continue into this week.


On Sunday afternoon, the National Environment Agency warned of "heavy thundery showers with gusty wind" over the north and east of the island, as Singapore faces the annual north-east monsoon.

The PUB also noted that water levels had risen above 90 per cent in canals at Leng Kee Road and Prince Philip Avenue, with a "high flood risk". Though the water levels fell back below the 90 per cent mark shortly afterwards, the high flood risk remained.

There was indeed a flood of sorts, in the east - though not due to canals bursting their banks. Water pooled on the second and third levels of Tampines Mall, after its rooftop drainage system could not handle an afternoon downpour.

The rainwater inlet, which helps channel rainwater from the mall's roof to external drainage, could not cope with the "unusually heavy amount of rainfall" and overflowed, said the mall's marketing communications manager Sarah Lua in a statement.

The flood was cleaned up by 4.25pm, and Tampines Mall is putting steps in place to prevent a recurrence," she added.

The wet weather looks set to continue this week, with the National Environment Agency forecasting thundery showers over many areas in the afternoon on Monday.

Tuesday's forecast is for passing showers in the afternoon. While Wednesday is set to be "occasionally windy", Thursday will see a return to thundery showers in the afternoon.