SCDF rescues 5 people from vehicles stuck in flash flood near Ikea Tampines

SINGAPORE — Five people had to be rescued from four partially submerged vehicles after heavy rain triggered a flash flood near Ikea Tampines on Friday (Aug 20) morning, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said.

SCDF received a call for assistance at the junction of Tampines Avenue 10 and Pasir Ris Drive 12 at about 7.40am.

Thirteen vehicles were found stationary and partially submerged in water, it added.

By the time rescuers arrived, about 25 people had already evacuated themselves. 

SCDF personnel then took the five stuck individuals to nearby sheltered areas. One person had to be taken to Changi General Hospital for leg pains.

The flash flood was caused by heavy rain on Friday morning. 

In a tweet at around 8am, national water agency PUB advised motorists to avoid Tampines Avenue 10 towards the Tampines Expressway (TPE) after floodwaters affected all four lanes of the road. 

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) later said in a tweet that the Tampines Avenue 10 entrance to the TPE was closed due to obstacles.

Videos and photos of cars stuck in calf-high water circulated on social media.

PUB added that its officers have been deployed to the site to render assistance.

In another Facebook post at 8.07am, PUB said that rising waters may cause flash floods at the following 10 locations, as water levels in their surrounding drains and canals had reached 90 per cent:

• 8.04am: Siang Kuang Avenue (Unit 35) 

• 8.08am: Upper Paya Lebar Road 

• 8.12am: Lorong Gambir/Gambir Walk 

• 8.12am: Puay Hee Avenue/ Siak Kew Avenue 

• 8.15am: Lorong 2 Toa Payoh (Block 122) 

• 8.18am: Langsat Road/Lorong 105 Changi 

• 8.20am: Macpherson Road/Playfair Road 

• 8.20am: Mount Vernon Road 

• 8.21am: Playfair Road (Bartley Rd East) 

• 8.21am: Jalan Lokam/Upper Paya Lebar Road 

  Other than the flash flood at the junction leading to TPE, LTA also alerted the public at 7.13am to another flash flood on Upper Thomson Road, towards Seletar Expressway (SLE), after Sin Ming Avenue.

  The authority warned about the flash flood surrounding TPE at the following times:

  • 7.44am: TPE (towards the Pan-Island Expressway) at Pasir Ris Drive 12 exit

  • 7.48am: TPE (towards SLE) at Tampines Ave 10 exit

  • 8.49am: Pasir Ris Drive 12 towards TPE 

  • 8.51am: TPE (towards SLE) at Tampines Ave 10 towards TPE 

  • 8.55am: TPE (towards SLE) at Tampines Ave 10 entrance