National Shooting Centre hit by overnight floods

SINGAPORE — At least 20,000 rounds of ammunition to be used by Singapore shooters at the upcoming SEA Games may have been rendered unusable, after floods hit the National Shooting Centre located at Old Choa Chu Kang Road overnight on Saturday (May 2).

Water levels apparently rose to about half a metre high in the Singapore Rifle Association's armoury. It is understood that drainage problems within the premises contributed to the flood.

The armoury stores about 40,000 rounds of ammunition to be used for the SEA Games, half of which got wet and may no longer be fit for use. If so, the losses could come up to about S$20,000.

The rounds were to be used by Singapore shooters for training and the actual competition. The Singapore Rifle Association said it is not taking any chances to ensure that medal hopes are not affected.

New rounds will be purchased on Monday. Delivery is expected to take about two to three weeks.

"When they opened the armoury this morning, our staff had a look and everything was choked up, water was in the armoury. We have been pumping all the water out,” said Mr Conrad Chung, a general member of the Singapore Rifle Association.

"These shooters are very particular; the rounds that are reserved for them are actually pre-tested on their guns and different rounds. Different batches perform differently due to the manufacturing process, so these are pre-selected rounds. Now the shooters have to wait for us to get the new rounds in and reselect them again.

"Hopefully there is enough time," he added. CHANNEL NEWSASIA