Workers clearing water away around Block 67 Marine Drive on Oct 4. - Photo: ST
SINGAPORE: Residents and motorists squelched through ankle-deep floodwaters in Marine Parade on Friday (Oct 4) after workers accidentally struck an underground water pipe.
Marine Parade Citizens’ Consultative Committee assistant secretary Yusof Abdul Lateef told The Straits Times that a contractor, Pal-Link Construction, had hit an underground pipe in the area while working on a lift shaft.
In a Facebook post on Oct 4, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng, who is an MP for Marine Parade GRC, said the 300mm-diameter water pipe was damaged during lift retrofitting works at the pedestrian overhead bridge near Block 67 Marine Drive.
He said: “This resulted in water flowing to Still Road South and the surrounding HDB blocks.
“The damaged water pipe has been isolated and repairs are ongoing. There is no disruption of water supply to nearby residential units.”
Dr Tan added that Marine Parade Community Club in Block 67 was among the facilities affected by the flood, which made the path to the club impassable.
In a Facebook post, national water agency PUB said the pipe carries potable water to the Marine Drive area, and the water from the burst pipe also flooded roads in the Still Road South area.
Abdul Rawoof, 51, who runs a convenience store in Block 67, said the flooding started at about 11.30am.
“My whole store is flooded. I had to move a lot of things out,” he said, adding that he had to switch off electrical appliances such as fridges.
He added that the contractor at the worksite has been helping to scoop water out of his shop.
But as the shop is located at the bottom of a slope, it took only a few minutes before the water came flooding back.
“I’m not sure if I can resume operations today,” he said.
By about 2.40pm, sandbags were laid outside the doorstep of Mr Abdul’s shop, and the Housing Board is in touch with the shop.
Clean-up efforts involved at least 20 workers, who were seen scooping water, mud and debris using buckets and helmets.
In video footage of the area sent in by readers, the floodwaters can be seen in the area near the store, surrounding roads and a playground.
Marine Drive resident Medelyn Phon, 48, said she was worried whether she and her family could leave their home because the lift lobby was flooded.
The lift at Lobby C of the block was still flooded at 3.20pm.
In an update on Facebook at around 9pm, Dr Tan said the lift will not be operational for the time being as the lift pit had been damaged from the flooding.
In a notice issued to residents, the Marine Parade Town Council said technicians are working to clear the water to carry out checks and necessary repairs.
Residents can use lifts A and B before the affected lift returns to service by Oct 8.
“Thankfully, it’s Children’s Day today, so the school is not open,” said Phon, adding that pupils typically need to walk through the block when they go to the nearby Tao Nan School.
The revenue consultant, who works from home, added: “It makes it worse that we have to endure all the construction noise.”
When ST arrived at about 1.50pm, the floodwaters in some areas were almost up to the knees.
Two police cars, five police officers and officers from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and PUB were seen in the area.
One of the four lanes in Still Road South towards Eunos Link was closed for workers to carry out repairs, said PUB.
At 3.30pm, three of the four lanes in Still Road South towards Eunos Link were passable to traffic.
Dr Tan said LTA contractors and Marine Parade Town Council aim to complete cleaning the area by the end of the day.
An LTA spokesman said it will work with its contractor to review the incident to identify the cause and take any necessary remedial actions.
PUB said it is investigating the incident and will take action if needed.
When contacted, an employee at Pal-Link Construction said to call again on Oct 7. - The Straits Times/ANN
