Update 6 Jan 2021: Landslides, Fallen Trees & Flash Floods due to Incessant Rain
Landslide In Outram Near York Hill Occurred Due To Continuous Heavy Rain On 2 Jan
Just 3 days into the new year, Singapore has already seen unprecedented levels of heavy rain and cold weather due to the La Nina phenomenon. While many are relishing the aircon weather, the torrential downpour has started wreaking havoc around the island with flash floods.
Now, landslides have also occurred, with one that took place behind Furama Riverfront Hotel — near York Hill and Outram Secondary School in Outram. Authorities have been alerted to the incident and the area is now cordoned off for repair works. In a video posted by SG Road Vigilante, muddy soil can be seen sliding down a slope in Outram on Saturday (2 Jan).
Minor soil slippage at 3 other locations. Apart from Outram, SLA noted that several minor soil slippage incidents also took place at:
- Kusu Island
- Lazarus Island
- St John’s Island
Flash Floods Strike Western and Central Singapore
Heavy rain on Wednesday evening (24 Jan) caused flash floods in parts of western and central Singapore. Outram Road was covered in muddy water, flooding took place next to the PUB’s drainage construction works in the area. Barriers from a construction site were spotted floating in the middle lane of the road and obstructing vehicles.
Meanwhile flooding also took place at Jalan Boon Lay / International Road at about 5pm.
The PUB says there are plans for drainage improvement works in the area to be carried out together with upcoming development works. The agency said that Singapore is still experiencing the northeast monsoon season, which is expected to continue till March.
Flash floods in eastern parts of Singapore after heavy downpour
A woman pushing her car which stalled in a flood at Bedok North on Monday morning, after a heavy downpour over many parts of S'pore. (fhoto: Twitter / SynCPositive)
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 & 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 & Bedok North Avenue 4 and the junction of Tampines Avenue 12.
Floodings raise questions on existing design methodology for drainage system
According to the Public Utilities Board, the flash floods that occurred in nine locations in eastern Singapore on Monday morning (8 Jan) occurred in low-lying grounds with drainage works in progress and Meteorological Services Singapore said that the floods arose because rain developed too quickly in the area. PUB's director of catchment and waterways Yeo Keng Soon told media that the drains were working and managed to drain the floods when the rain stopped.
It is noted that all the reported flood areas are low-lying grounds with drainage works in progress except Tampines Avenue 12. According to PUB, investigations are still ongoing in the area, and should be completed within the next two days. Preliminary investigations did not show any obstruction. Investigations will also be conducted to find out if there were any other contributing factors to the flood.
The ongoing drainage works in the affected areas will be completed by March 2019 and the revamped drains will discharge water faster. Reports from Mainstream Media accepted the conclusion from PUB and the relevant agencies that the flooding that covered the eastern part of Singapore happened "because 118.8mm of rain was recorded at the Kim Chuan Road rain gauge within just four hours. That amount is about half of Singapore's average monthly rainfall in January."
Flash Flood Incidences Rise 130% in 2 Years – A Problem of Inadequate Measures by Authorities?
ELSON: In 2015, flash floods were reported on 6 days, according to the PUB
In 2016, that number jumped to 10 days. Last year, there were 14 days in which flash floods were reported in Singapore – a 130 percent jump in 2 years. That’s just as we thought things were getting better since the “dark days” of 2013 where flash floods were reported on 36 days. But what’s irking is how inadequate flood-prevention measures have proven to be in areas which are known to be prone to floods. In other words, the authorities had one job and more than one chance to get it right, but they still haven’t.
SMRT blamed staff deceit for Singapore’s first-ever tunnel flooding, but who do enforcement agencies blame when the same public roads get flooded time and again despite prior knowledge that a flood is likely? There’s a cost to all this – commuters suffer inconvenience, but businesses bear the brunt of the cost because a wet pair of trousers is a pittance compared to tens of thousands in destroyed goods and staff loss of productivity – tens of thousands for ONE affected business, and we know that floods don’t just impact one. Take for example the flooding that always seems to impact the Cuscaden stretch of Orchard Road – it’s been going on for years. And as for the Thomson Road flooding which the authorities blamed on contractors of the MRT line there, it happened twice in a month with the second time coming after PUB had already identified the cause of the flood – where then was the enforcement and monitoring to make sure once was more than enough?
Now, the PUB says that those locations along the eastern part of Singapore that were flooded today are known flood-prone areas. Where then are the preventive measures?
Worst flash floods in 30 years
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 yrs. This is the worst flash flood we have experienced,” said the 67-yr-old.
related: Flooding situation will 'definitely improve' when drainage works are completed
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Flooding reported at 9 locations in eastern Singapore
It was a wet and dreary Monday (Jan 8) for many commuters & motorists early this morning, as the heavy rain caused flash floods at several locations in eastern Singapore.
According to a statement from water agency PUB, flooding occurred at these 9 areas:
- Tampines Road (Opp Jalan Teliti)
- Tampines Ave 12 (Opp Tampines Eco Green)
- Arumugam Road
- Sims Ave/Eunos Road 8
- Sims Ave/Tanjong Katong Road
- Jalan Nipah
- Bedok Road/New Upper Changi Road
- Upper Changi Road/Bedok North Ave 4
- Bedok Road/Upper Changi Road East
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Intense rain over Singapore due to prevailing Northeast Monsoon and Sumatra Squall
A grand total of nine locations in eastern Singapore was confirmed to be hit by flash floods from the intense rain yesterday, according to the Public Utilities Board (PUB) in a press release about the morning mayhem.
And indeed, it was mayhem — dozens of pictures and videos of the floods went up on social media, captured by folks stranded on the ground. Cars stalled in flood waters, while buses had waters flowing onto their floors. Firefighters from Changi Fire Station had to help direct traffic and rescue vehicles stranded in the murky teh tarik-hued waters.
The nine locations — including the likes of Tampines Road, Sims Avenue, Bedok Road, and Jalan Nipah — are already undergoing drainage improvement works, assured PUB. They’ll only be completed by the first quarter of next year at the most though.
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Heavy rain causes flash floods in parts of Singapore
Thundery showers over much of Singapore on Monday morning (8 January) caused flash floods in several parts of the island. The National Environment Agency warned that moderate to heavy thundery showers with gusty winds were expected in the late morning and late afternoon.
The heavy rain led to flash floods.
According to national water agency PUB, water levels in New Upper Changi Road, Chai Chee Road, Tampines Road were at or above 90 per cent early in the morning, indicating a high flood risk. Later, Paya Lebar Road, Arumugam Road, and Bedok Canal at Upper Changi Road East were listed as high flood risk areas.
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Strong Rains Cause Flash Floods in Eastern Singapore
Strong rains caused sudden flash floods in different areas in eastern Singapore on Monday morning, January 8.
Shortly after 9 am, PUB, the country’s national water agency, posted tweets to warn the public concerning flash floods in the following areas: Tampines Ave 12, Upper Changi Road/Bedok North Ave 4, Bedok Road/Upper Changi Road East, Arumugam Road, Sims Ave/Eunos Road 8, Sims Ave/Tanjong Katong Road, Jalan Nipah, Bedok Road/New Upper Changi Road and Tampines Road.
By 11:30 am, PUB announced via Facebook that the floodwaters had receded, and that many of the roads were passable, while warning the public to remain careful and to avoid using the roads that had been flooded. Furthermore, PUB also announced that the floods had only lasted between 20 minutes to one hour, and they issued an assurance that operations teams had been sent to the flooded areas in order to conduct investigations as well as provide necessary help.
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Flooding in many areas due to unusually heavy rainfall: What to do during a flash flood
Heavy rain fell across Singapore early on Monday morning (Jan 8), causing flash floods in at least 9 areas in the eastern part of the island which stranded cars & stopped traffic.
National water agency PUB attributed the floods to intense rainfall from the prevailing north-east monsoon.
The rain was exacerbated by a Sumatra squall - lines of thunderstorms characterised by a sudden onset of strong gusty surface winds & heavy rain lasting one to two hours - that developed over the Strait of Malacca and moved eastwards, affecting Singapore.
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These Pictures from this Morning’s Flood Are So Real They Could be Fake
Anyone who made it to work on time this morning would have seen what the entire nation witnessed today with both shock and awe.
Not only were pavements flooded like we’ve never seen before, even roads seemed to transform into rivers as cars either sank or floated. In one Insta-story we saw this morning, commuters waiting for a bus were seen standing on benches in order to stay out of the water.
But whether these pictures are real or not remains anyone’s guess.
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Heavy flash floods hit Singapore again
Many parts of Singapore were affected by flash floods on September 5 in the morning after heavy thundery showers went down on the city state, bringing traffic to a complete halt, uprooting trees and closing a section of the Ayer Rajah Expressway.
Tree fell on cars and fences collapsed, users reported on Twitter and Facebook, causing massive traffic jam along Dunearn Road.
Singapore’s national water agency PUB said on its Facebook page that flash floods occurred in several areas in the western part of the city, including the junction of Commonwealth Drive and Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandra Road at the junction of Delta Road, and along the Ayer Rajah Expressway towards Clementi.
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Idea of the '50-year flood' has been misunderstood
For many people, the sight of all four city-bound lanes of the Ayer Rajah Expressway submerged just over a week ago would have triggered a thought along the lines of: "Isn't this sort of thing only supposed to happen once every 50 years?"
This half-century time-frame entered the national consciousness in 2009, when then minister for the environment and water resources Yaacob Ibrahim said the flooding in Orchard Road that year was a "freak event" that happened once every 50 years.
It is a quote that is now dredged up every time there is a flood (and there have been several) as proof of how badly the authorities misjudged the flood risk here.
related: PUB will build tidal gate at canal in 6 to 9 months
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All Singapore Stuff shared a post 7 January at 18:37
