Forum: Urgent action needed to deal with flash floods
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The flash floods in December affecting Dunearn Road, Bukit Timah Road and Balmoral Road ( 3 in 3 months: Flash floods could become more frequent, Two flash floods amid record rainfall in the north,
While it is fortunate that no lives were lost, the risk to life and property is ever present and escalating. Climate change has brought more unpredictable and extreme weather conditions, amplified by Singapore’s dense urbanisation. Flash floods are no longer rare, isolated events – they are becoming the norm. The urgency to act cannot be overstated.
PUB and the Land Transport Authority must urgently enhance the flood-risk management system. This includes implementing physical roadblocks in flood-prone areas to prevent motorists from driving into danger zones.
Current protocols, including PUB’s Quick Response Teams, must be critically reviewed to address the recurring problem of stranded vehicles.
Basement carparks, which are particularly vulnerable during floods, require immediate attention. Residents need ready access to affordable and effective flood-protection devices, such as flood barriers and sandbags. A centralised system for distribution, education and guidance on these protective measures should be established without delay.
As predicting the intensity of rainstorms remains challenging, our institutes of higher learning can and must lead the charge in coming up with innovative solutions to mitigate flash flood impacts. Research and development in flood-
management technologies, early warning systems, and urban design adaptations must be accelerated.
Although long-term solutions like drain widening and deepening, as planned for Bukit Timah Canal, are essential, immediate, actionable steps are critical to safeguarding lives and livelihoods from sudden downpours.
Climate change is here to stay. Singapore must act decisively to strengthen its resilience against an increasingly volatile climate.
Liu Fook Thim
