SINGAPORE — The School of Law in the Singapore Management University (SMU) campus was flooded on Sunday (Jan 22) after a water pipe burst and students returning to school on Monday had to attend classes in other rooms in the new building.

Photos shared on social media show muddy water in and around the building, located along Armenian Street.

An SMU spokesperson told TODAY that “an influx of water from the burst mains caused flooding to occur inside the SMU School of Law building”. 

The affected areas were later cleaned and dried up, and lessons scheduled to take place in the affected classrooms were held in other rooms.

The spokesperson added: “We are also working with our consultants to assess the extent of the damage. All necessary resources have been deployed to get the affected areas up and running again within the next few days so as to minimise inconvenience to students, faculty and staff members.”

Assistant Professor of Law Jack Lee told TODAY that he was in his office on Sunday in the building’s fourth level when a public announcement was made at around 4pm that there was an emergency and they should evacuate. 

“When I left my office and went into the atrium, I could see muddy water flowing on to level three. Water was also pouring from level three to level two. As it was a Sunday, the building wasn’t crowded, but there were some students around looking (on).”

He said that cleanup works were ongoing yesterday morning: “Level three of the library is closed for repairs, as are some seminar rooms on that level ... A number of electrical items such as gantries and escalators also seem to be down.” 

The faculty just moved into the building at the end of December and classes started in January, he added.

PUB said that it received reports of a leak at Canning Rise near SMU on Sunday evening and immediately sent officers to the site. 

The leak was isolated by 8.30pm. “Water from the leakage washed earth material into one of the blocks at SMU. Pipe repair work is currently in progress. PUB is investigating the cause of the leak,” the agency told TODAY.