SINGAPORE - A section of the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) was closed for about two hours after a water pipe burst in the tunnel.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) told The Straits Times that a section of the eastbound MCE tunnel between the Central Boulevard Exit and the Marina Boulevard entrance was temporarily closed to traffic due to a burst water pipe at about 9.10pm.

"Repair works to fix the burst pipe are ongoing," said the spokesman. "Affected motorists can re-enter the MCE tunnel via Marina Boulevard."

The tunnel reopened at 11.25pm.

LTA said it is currently investigating the cause of the incident.

Photos shared online show vehicles driving in a downpour inside the tunnel.

Eyewitness Juffri Mohamad, who is in his 20s, told ST that he was on his way home in the MCE tunnel towards Changi when he noticed a mist.

"I was driving in my car with the windows wound down at around 8.45pm, about 15m from the first entrance, when I saw something very misty in front," said Mr Juffri, who works in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

"I thought it was car fumes but I felt the water from the top, and my windscreen had water droplets. All four sprinklers in the four lanes were activated," he said. "Everyone was driving through the water."

SBS Transit said bus service 30 will skip two bus stops along Fort Road and Mountbatten Road due to the road closure.

This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. In May last year, sprinklers were accidentally activated in the MCE, drenching the eastbound tunnel. In 2015, a similar incident occurred as well.