Flash floods in eastern parts of Singapore after heavy downpour

SINGAPORE: Some residents in the eastern parts of Singapore woke up to more than Monday blues on Monday (Jan 8) - some had to face murky brown water, coming right up to their doorsteps.

"The water came into the driveway, up to the front of my car," said retiree Mr Lim, who lives along a stretch of terrace houses along Jalan Greja. The low-lying residential area in Bedok was one of those affected by the flash floods on Monday.

“I’ve lived here for over 30 years. This is the worst flash flood we have experienced,” said the 67-year-old.

Floods were reported at nine areas in total - including Tampines, Sims Avenue and Upper Changi Road - said national water agency PUB.

PUB also sent out alerts on social media, warning that there was "high flood risk" at several waterways such as Bedok Canal, Sungei Kallang and Sungei Tongkang.

Channel NewsAsia visited the private estates next to Bedok Canal shortly after the PUB alerts came in. While the flash floods had subsided, there were signs of water damage.

Mr Lim clearing the loose soil left from his fallen potted plants, some of which were submerged in the flash flood. (Photo: Christy Yip)

Mr Lim was in the midst of clearing up debris from fallen potted plants outside his house. He said water at the walkway outside his house came up to 20cm, submerging some of his smaller plants.

Resident Mr Lim showing where the flash flood water levels came up to. (Photo: Christy Yip)

He said that the last time flash floods occurred here was eight to nine years ago.

Businessman Alex Lo said he thought it was just another rainy Monday morning until his wife alerted him that flood waters were gathering outside. “(I was) so worried that the water level would rise further,” his wife Corinne said.

Water coming into the Lo family's house along Jalan Greja in Bedok. (Photo: Alex Lo)

The Los live in a corner terrace along Jalan Greja, three streets down from Jalan Nipah which was flooded. Drainage in the area is connected to Bedok Canal and is subject to tidal influence, PUB said.

Mr Lo said water levels peaked at around 9.30am, making it impossible for cars to drive through to get to Bedok Road.

“One driver was unfortunately caught in the high waters. He had a tough time climbing out of his car,” recounted Mr Lo. The driver had to call a tow company to take the stalled car away, he added.

A stalled car from the flash flood being towed away. (Photo: Christy Yip)

“I can’t imagine if it was during high tide. The flash flood would have been worse,” said Mr Lo.

A couple of Jalan Greja residents noted that construction works are ongoing at the canal behind their estate. PUB said in a statement on Monday that drainage improvement works are already underway to improve flood protection for the various locations which were hit by flash floods.

Part of Bedok Canal flooding over its banks. (Photo: Alex Lo)

The agency also said the flooding was caused by intense rain and that half of Singapore's average monthly rainfall in January fell on Kim Chuan Road in Bartley in the span of four hours.

SINGAPORE: A heavy downpour on Monday morning (Jan 8) caused flash floods in several parts of eastern Singapore.

In a series of tweets from 9.20am, national water agency PUB warned of flash floods at Jalan Nipah, at the junctions of Sims Avenue and Eunos Road 8 as well as Tanjong Katong Road.

PUB also issued flash flood warnings for Arumugam Road, the junction of Bedok Road and Upper Changi Road East, the junction of Upper Changi Road and Bedok North Avenue 4 and the junction of Tampines Avenue 12.

Flash floods at junction of Tampines Ave 12. Traffic passable. Issued 09:50 hours. #sgflood — PUB (@PUBsingapore) January 8, 2018

Flash floods at junction of Upper Changi Road/Bedok North Ave 4. Traffic passable. Issued 09:40 hours. #sgflood — PUB (@PUBsingapore) January 8, 2018

A video submitted by a Channel NewsAsia reader also showed floods near Paya Lebar Square where a car could be seen partially submerged.

Traffic along Paya Lebar affected after heavy rain. (Photo: Thomas Tan)

People wading in water at Bedok North Avenue 4. (Photo: Melvin Lau)

Many also shared on social media photos and videos of flooding at several areas in Singapore.

Part-time Uber driver Melvin Lau said he was driving along Bedok North Avenue 4 at around 9am when he encountered flash floods.

"My car was almost stuck in the waters. I had to engage the first gear and slowly move out," he told Channel NewsAsia.

One Channel NewsAsia reader who was heading to work in a Grab Hitch also encountered high water levels at the Certis Cisco building in Paya Lebar. "The driver was sending a lady passenger with me to Certis Cisco, but found the drop-off point to be unsuitable due to the flash flood, so the next best thing he did was to go up the Certis Cisco car park," she said.

In a Facebook post at around 11.30am, PUB said that the flash floods caused by "intense rain" in several locations in eastern Singapore had subsided at around 10.30am.

PUB said the flash floods lasted from 20 minutes to one hour.

It added that it had activated operations teams to the flooded locations to investigate and render assistance where possible.

SINGAPORE: A heavy downpour on Monday morning (Jan 8) caused flash floods in several parts of eastern Singapore.