Singaporeans barely had time to dry out their umbrellas, before yet another weekend of torrential rain, turned the city’s streets into rivers, proving once again that Singapore’s weekend plans often come with a high chance of showers. On April 20, intense rain triggered flash floods across multiple locations in Singapore and heavily affected the Bukit Timah area. The worst rainfall of 113.2mm was recorded in central Singapore between 4.15pm and 6.25pm – an amount equivalent to nearly half the city’s average monthly rainfall for April and one of the highest daily rainfall records since 1978. Here’s what we know about the flash flood in Singapore on April 20, 2025.
Where did the flash floods occur?
The heavy showers on the afternoon of April 20 led to flooding in Singapore. These flash floods temporarily overwhelmed the drainage systems in areas like Bukit Timah Road (between Clementi Road and Blackmore Drive), Kings Road (between Prince Road and Lutheran Road), Coronation Walk, and the junction of Stevens Road and Balmoral Road.
Additionally, some areas reached ankle-deep water levels as seen in images and videos shared on social media by users such as Karni Wati. Meanwhile, vehicles were seen wading through submerged streets.
Singapore’s National Water Agency, PUB, issued flood risk warnings for 18 locations across the island during the two-hour period of heavy rainfall. These locations included Orchard Road, Sunset Drive, Toa Payoh, Jalan Boon Lay, and Alexandra Road, to name a few. Subsequently, PUB deployed officers to the affected zones to assist motorists and direct traffic. Despite the disruption, the flooding subsided within about one hour thanks to a robust drainage response and emergency protocols.
Was this the worst flood in Singapore?
Although, the volume of rain on April 20 was among one of the worst recorded since 1978, Singapore has experienced far more devastating floods in the past. For instance, the worst flash floods in Singapore’s history occurred in December 1978, when an extraordinary 512mm of rain fell within just 24 hours, resulting in seven deaths and significant property damage. Similarly, the floods of 1954 and 1969 inundated much of the island.
Indeed, these flash floods in Singapore showcase an ongoing need for infrastructure upgrades in flood-prone areas and relatively quick drainage management which is already beneficial compared to previous decades.
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