SINGAPORE, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Two recent flooding incidents during the monsoon surge in Singapore were caused by inadequate drainage, the national water agency Public Utilities Board (PUB) said on Tuesday.
The first incident, on Friday along Central Lane 3 in southern Singapore, occurred because there was no proper drainage system in place to channel stormwater, it said in a Facebook post. The affected area is a paved road built to provide access to an adjacent worksite.
The second incident, on Sunday at Block 129 Bedok Reservoir Road in southeastern Singapore, happened when internal drains near the ground-floor lift lobby were found clogged with debris.
"Both flooding incidents could have been prevented" with proper drainage measures and timely maintenance of the internal drainage system, the PUB said, adding that it is working closely with the relevant authorities to address these issues.
Singapore saw heavy rainfall during the monsoon surge in the past week, prompting flood risk warnings for several locations. The National Environment Agency had previously warned of a monsoon surge from March 19 to 21, bringing strong winds, cooler temperatures, and periods of moderate to heavy rain over Singapore and nearby areas.
Overall, the rainfall for the second half of March is expected to be above average across most of the island, the agency said. ■
