Heavy rain wreaks havoc in Singapore - Flash floods in Bukit Timah following afternoon deluge

 

The heaviest rainfall in Sunday's (Dec 29) deluge was 134.6mm, recorded in central Singapore from 3.15pm to 5.25pm. - PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Flash floods occurred in Bukit Timah after heavy rain across the island on the afternoon and evening of Sunday (December 29).

In posts on X at about 5.10pm, national water agency PUB said there were flash floods along Dunearn Road and Bukit Timah Road, near King Albert Park. These subsided by 5.22pm, PUB said in separate posts.

The agency later said on Facebook that its quick response teams were on site to help the public by closing off affected lanes and directing traffic away from flood waters.

It added that the Bukit Timah area is prone to flooding, and that drainage improvement works have been carried out along Bukit Timah Canal and the Bukit Timah First Diversion Canal over the past decade.

Vehicles seen at Cambridge Road in Singapore on Sunday. - The Straits Times/ANN

There are also ongoing works to widen and deepen a 900m stretch of Bukit Timah Canal, from Rifle Range Road to Jalan Kampong Chantek, as a long-term measure to enhance flood protection in the area, and these will be completed by 2026, PUB said.

The heaviest rainfall in Dec 29’s deluge was 134.6mm, recorded in central Singapore from 3.15pm to 5.25pm.

“This amount corresponds to 41 per cent of Singapore’s average monthly rainfall in December and lies within the top 1 per cent of maximum daily rainfall records since 1978,” said PUB.

At 4.51pm on Dec 29, it said on X that heavy rain could be expected for another hour.

PUB had issued flood-risk alerts in several areas across the island, including Choa Chu Kang, Toa Payoh, Bukit Timah and in the city.

Pedestrians in Orchard Road at about 3.30pm on Dec 29. - PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

In an X post at 4.39pm, PUB advised people to avoid Choa Chu Kang Avenue 1 (towards Choa Chu Kang Way, Choa Chu Kang Drive and Teck Whye Lane) for an hour.

In posts put up less than five minutes later, it also listed Lorong Gambir, the junction of Toa Payoh Lorong 1 and Toa Payoh Lorong 2, Eng Kong Place and the junction of Lorong Kismis, and Toh Tuck Rise as areas to be avoided.

PUB later included these areas to be avoided: Dunearn Road (Yarwood Avenue to Binjai Park); Bukit Timah Road (Wilby Road to Blackmore Drive); Upper Hokkien Street; The junction of Bishan Street 21 and Jalan Pemimpin; Craig Road (Duxton Road to Tanjong Pagar Road); Jalan Lokam; Hillcrest Road; Sunset Drive; Puay Hee Avenue; Queen’s Road and Thomson Road

The Meteorological Service Singapore had said in its fortnightly advisory on Dec 16 that thundery showers were expected over parts of Singapore in the afternoon on several days that week.

The rain was likely to ease up in the last week of 2024, it added, though there may be some windy days with short passing showers, owing to a brief strengthening of northerly winds that week. - The Straits Times/ANN