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  Channel NewsAsia 28 Aug 07
Flooding in some parts of Singapore due to heavy rain

Straits Times 29 Aug 07
Heavy 7-hour rainfall causes floods
Jane Ng

YESTERDAY'S heavy downpour left a taxi driver and his passengers stranded off Adam Road for 45 minutes. The NTUC Comfort cab stalled just as it was climbing a slope in Arcadia Road. As cabby Jaya Ansor Mohamed's passengers waited for a replacement taxi, the water level inched up. In 10 minutes, the water had risen to cover half the tyres' height and started seeping in through the floorboards.

The 47-year-old cabby said his passengers, two retired doctors and the wife of one of them, dealt with the situation in good humour. Mr Jaya said: 'The water was ankle-deep in the taxi and they just rolled up their pants and started to talk and crack jokes.'

The Public Utilities Board said the heavy downpour drenched central Singapore from 7am to 2pm, causing flash floods in parts.

In the seven hours alone, 143mm fell. This is nearly as much as 175mm - the average rainfall for the entire month of August recorded in the last 100 years.

Floods occurred in parts because the downpour coincided with the rising tide, which reached 2.6m at 11.45am. Commonwealth Avenue, Ganges Avenue, King's Road and Balmoral Road were also covered by water. Flooding in some parts of Singapore due to heavy rain

Channel NewsAsia 28 Aug 07
Flooding in some parts of Singapore due to heavy rain

SINGAPORE: There was flooding in some parts of the island on Tuesday due to heavy rain, leading to traffic chaos.

The rain started early as Singaporeans were about to go to work or school, and it did not let up for much of the morning.

The rainfall recorded over a period of seven hours, from 7am to 2pm, hit 143mm – about 80 percent of what Singapore gets in a whole month. According to records, the average total monthly rainfall for August is 175 mm.

The area near Commonwealth MRT station saw traffic slow down as some vehicles got caught in the flood waters. Low-lying areas were the worst hit and water levels came up to the knees.

An SBS bus crashed into a taxi stand when its driver tried to drop off his passengers at the shelter off the main route amidst the heavy downpour. An elderly woman was slightly injured when glass from the windshield fell on her and was later taken to the hospital.

Heavy rain also caused flash floods in central parts of Singapore. Taxi-driver Ng Kim Wah said: "When I came here, the water-level was quite high but I could see the yellow markings. So I thought I could drive through. As I drove through, I didn't realise that my number plate dropped out. I think it was probably loose and the force of the water (caused it to drop)."

A few weeks ago, more than 80 percent of the island experienced less than average rainfall, but Singapore is starting to experience wet weather with the southwest monsoon prevailing in the region.

The weatherman expects showers in the mornings and rain with thunder in the afternoons.

Police received some ten calls on heavy flooding at Upper Bukit Timah Road, Cuscaden Road, Eng Neo Road, along the Pan Island Expressway (PIE), and the Commonwealth area.

But there should be fewer flood cases soon. PUB has started the construction of the nearly S$13-million canal to contain more excess water at Commonwealth Avenue. This is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

A drainage project at flood-prone Joan Road, which will cost S$18.5 million, will begin next month. - CNA/so
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