Locations hit by flash floods on Wednesday are known hotspots: PUB

Today Online 25 Jan 18;

SINGAPORE — Flash floods were reported in the Western and Central parts of Singapore, after an afternoon of heavy rain on Wednesday (Jan 24).

The PUB said in a statement on Wednesday night that the flash floods occurred at three locations at around 5.15pm - Jalan Boon Lay/International Road, Craig Road and Outram Road.

According to the agency, Jalan Boon Lay/International Road, Craig Road are known flood hotspots.

It added that there are "plans for drainage improvement works at Jalan Boon Lay/International Road in tandem with upcoming development works in the area".

PUB says it is studying measures to improve the drainage at Craig Road.

"The flood at Outram Road is next to PUB’s drainage construction worksite and we are investigating further," it said.

PUB says it expects the ongoing Northeast Monsoon season to continue till March.

Members of the public who who require flood updates can find the information on PUB's Facebook www.facebook.com/PUBSg or the agency's mobile app "MyWaters".


Heavy rain causes flash floods in Tanjong Pagar, Boon Lay
Channel NewsAsia 24 Jan 18;

SINGAPORE: Flash floods were reported in the western and central parts of Singapore following a heavy downpour on Wednesday (Jan 24) afternoon.

National water agency PUB said in separate alerts on Wednesday that flash floods occurred at Jalan Boon Lay/International Road at 5.15pm and Craig Road at 5.16pm.

In an update late on Wednesday, PUB noted that the two areas are known flood hotspots.

"There are plans for drainage improvement works at Jalan Boon Lay/International Road in tandem with upcoming development works in the area. PUB is studying measures to improve the drainage at Craig Road," it said in a statement.

Video sent by Channel NewsAsia reader Daeun Amy Yoo showed the wheels of vehicles partially submerged in the flash flood, with water rising up to ankle level at Tanjong Pagar Road.

Photos sent in by another Channel NewsAsia reader, who wanted to remain anonymous, showed Outram Road covered in muddy water.

Barriers from a nearby construction looked to have dislodged from their positions and floated onto the middle lane of the road, obstructing vehicles.
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PUB said in its statement that the flood at Outram Road took place next to the water agency's drainage construction worksite. "We are investigating further," it said.

The agency added that Singapore is still experiencing the northeast monsoon season, which is expected to continue till March.

It urged the public to exercise caution and avoid flooded areas.

Flood updates are available on PUB’s Facebook page, as well as its mobile app MyWaters.


Tanjong Pagar, Boon Lay, Outram hit with flash floods; PUB says areas are known hot spots
Ng Huiwen Straits Times 24 Jan 18;

SINGAPORE - Heavy rain caused flash floods in Craig Road, Outram Road and the junction of Jalan Boon Lay and International Road on Wednesday (Jan 24) with high flood risk reported in many other areas across Singapore.

National water agency PUB said in a statement on Wednesday night that the three locations are known hot spots, prone to flooding because of specific localised conditions.

There are plans for drainage improvement works in Jalan Boon Lay and International Road, together with upcoming development works in the area, PUB said.

The agency is studying measures to improve drainage in Craig Road, and it is investigating the flood in Outram Road, which occurred in front of the Tan Boon Liat Building next to PUB’s drainage construction worksite.

PUB first tweeted at about 5.15pm that two out of three lanes at the junction of Jalan Boon Lay and International Road were affected by flash floods.

It said that Craig Road in Tanjong Pagar was closed to traffic due to the flash floods as well.

In an update at around 5.25pm, PUB tweeted that the flash floods in Boon Lay have subsided and that traffic is passable.

PUB first tweeted at about 5.15pm that two out of three lanes at the junction of Jalan Boon Lay and International Road were affected by flash floods.

Soon after, it tweeted that Craig Road was open to traffic.

​Several areas in central and western Singapore also reported a high flood risk on Wednesday.

These include the junction of Yuan Ching Road and Yung Kuang Road, and the junction of Exeter Road and Somerset Road.

In the statement, PUB added that the north-east monsoon season is expected to continue in Singapore till March. “We urge the public to exercise caution and avoid stepping into or driving into flooded areas,” the statement said.


Craig Road flash flood: Eateries take it in stride
Lim Min Zhang Straits Times 25 Jan 18;

SINGAPORE - Wednesday's (Jan 24) flash flood in Craig Road led to an eatery in the area having to close for an hour for rainwater to clear.

However, many of the food and beverage outlets The Straits Times spoke to on Thursday said flooding is a rare occurence.

The Craig Road-Tanjong Pagar Road junction, where many F&B outlets are located, is one of the 55 areas identified by national water agency PUB as hot spots that might experience flash floods due to intense storms or specific localised conditions, such as road depressions.

One F&B establishment located at the site of the flooding said rain water flowed into the premises on Wednesday.

"The flood brought along with it leaves and cigarette butts, so we had to spend an hour clearing up the shop, even though the flood subsided in 15 minutes," said the F&B outlet's manager, who declined to be named.

"Not only could no customers come in during this period, the flood alert also discouraged people from even coming to the area," he added.

Five other eateries in the area said they did not experience flooding in their stretch of the road. However, the rain still had an impact on business.

Mr Dennis Bonaobra, 29, the manager of burger restaurant Two Blur Guys, said: "When it rains, our customers can drop by as much as 80 per cent, but it's not due to flooding (if it occurs). Rather, they are looking for something hot to drink, like soup, instead."

He added that he has not experienced water entering his restaurant during rainy days for the last three years.

A previous flash flood in the same hot spot caused by intense rain had occurred on Jan 9, affecting two lanes along a 30m stretch.

Director of PUB's catchment and waterways department Yeo Keng Soon said on Jan 17 that it is not practical to design drains to accommodate every extreme storm, as this would lead to significantly higher costs and the use of a lot more land.

Security officer Abdulaziz Taib, 64, who has worked in the Tanjong Pagar area for more than 20 years, said that flooding along the road is not common, noting that it could happen two to three times a year.

"Maybe it is not worth taxpayers' money to upgrade the drainage system if the flooding happens so rarely," he added.