Singapore's Orchard Road Major Flood Since 1984

Somebody's job is on the line. Heavy rain was reported on 16 June 2010 and from 8am to 11am, 100millimetres of rainfall were recorded, causing major flood in areas such as Orchard Road. (Source: Channel News Asia).

Due to the flood situation, businesses are disrupted, properties damaged, safety of people were affected plus a whole lot of other issues that will come up the next couple of days.

One common reason floods happen is when there is very heavy rain and high tide at the same time. Floods happen during these time because water from the sea is going upstream and heavy rain fall is pushing water to the rivers and canals. Over a short period of time, the water level simply goes up and over flows to the roads and any other low lying areas.

However, a quick check with Singapore's National Environment Agency's website http://app2.nea.gov.sg/tidetime.aspx shows that on 16 June 2010 at 0756 hrs it was low tide and the next high tide was at 1458 hrs. From 8am to 11am, it wasn't high tide and this proves that somewhere along the Stamford Canal there are blockages. Water along the canal isn't moving out fast enough.

First thing that comes to mind is that the Marina Barrage would be at fault. It is meant to prevent more sea water from coming into the river system and to flush out swelling river water into the sea when the risk of flood is high. If flood happened, it could mean it is not flushing out quickly enough.

But then, if there are blockages upstream, the water level near Marina Barrage would have been at a safe level and the system would not have activated to flush out the swelling river water.

Hence, looking at the situation from a logical standpoint, it is more likely that there are some blockages on the upstream. Somebody, some company will be looking at the wrath of Singapore law staring right in front of their eyes.