Flash floods in Bukit Timah as PUB issues islandwide alerts
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Water is seen rising in Balmoral Road on April 20.
PHOTO: ST READER
Follow topic:
SINGAPORE - Heavy showers on the afternoon of April 20 led to flash floods in several parts of Bukit Timah.
The affected areas were Bukit Timah Road, between Clementi Road and Blackmore Drive; Kings Road, between Prince Road and Lutheran Road; the junction between Stevens Road and Balmoral Road; and Coronation Walk.
Flood risk warnings were issued for a total of 18 locations, including Paya Lebar, Orchard Road, Thomson Road, Toa Payoh, Hillcrest Road, Sunset Drive, Boon Lay, and Alexandra Road.
National water agency PUB said its Quick Response Team was deployed to direct traffic away from flooded lanes and provide assistance to motorists.
The flash floods subsided after about an hour at all four waterlogged locations.
Local actor-host Darren Lim was among the many who were caught off guard by the fast-rising waters.
In an Instagram video, the 52-year-old is seen carrying his son Elliot on his shoulders, as he waded through the knee-deep muddy water to get his car after picking up his son from a tuition class in Bukit Timah.
Lim asks his son “is this fun or not”, to which the boy replies “it’s very scary”.
In a Facebook post on April 20, PUB said that the heaviest rainfall of 113.2mm was recorded in the central area from 4.15pm to 6.25pm.
This corresponds to nearly half of Singapore’s average monthly rainfall in April and, like in the case of an afternoon deluge on April 13,
PUB said the Bukit Timah area is prone to flooding, and works are ongoing to expand a section of the Bukit Timah Canal – from Rifle Range Road to Jalan Kampong Chantek – to enhance flood protection. The works are expected to be completed by 2026.
Earlier, National Environment Agency warned that moderate to heavy thundery showers with gusty winds were expected over the northern, southern and central areas of Singapore for an hour from 4.25pm.
The Meteorological Service Singapore on April 16 said that in the second half of the month, short thundery showers were expected over parts of the island in the afternoon on most days, with some extending into the evening.
Daily maximum temperatures are forecast to range between 33 deg C and 34 deg C on most days, with highs of around 35 deg C on some days.
