Katie Daly
Updated on: October 16, 2024 2:26 pm GMT
Residents of Marine Parade faced unexpected troubles on October 4 when floodwaters surged through parts of the neighborhood due to an accident involving a construction team. The contractor, Pal-Link Construction, struck an underground water pipe while working on a lift shaft, causing significant disturbances in the area.
Extent of the Flooding
By noon, the streets of Marine Parade were submerged, with water levels reaching ankle-deep in many spots. Witnesses described how flooding affected residents and businesses alike. Abdul Rawoof, a 51-year-old store owner, reported that his shop was also affected. He stated, “My whole store is flooded. I had to move a lot of things out,” indicating the severity of the situation.
As water poured into his store, he quickly turned off electrical appliances to prevent damage. Despite assistance from construction workers siphoning water, his store remained vulnerable due to its location at the bottom of a slope. “It only takes a few minutes before the water returns,” he lamented, unsure if he could resume operations that day.
Impact on Residents
The flooding’s impact wasn’t limited to businesses. Local residents felt the repercussions, too. Medelyn Phon, a 48-year-old resident, expressed concern about her family’s ability to leave their home, as the lift lobby was flooded. One of the two lift lobbies remained submerged well into the afternoon. “Thankfully, it’s Children’s Day today, so the school is not open,” she noted, emphasizing the challenges families faced due to the flooding.
Response from Authorities
As the situation unfolded, various authorities responded to the crisis. By 1:50 PM, officers from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the national water agency PUB were on-site to assess and address the issue. Police cars and officers were also visible, monitoring the situation and helping coordinate recovery efforts.
To aid in the recovery, sandbags were placed outside Abdul’s shop by 2:40 PM to help contain the flooding. A clean-up crew composed of at least 20 workers worked diligently to scoop water, mud, and debris from the affected areas.
Future Prevention Measures
Concerns about future flooding have emerged, particularly regarding the underground water pipes. When contacted for further information, an employee at Pal-Link Construction asked to call back on October 7. Meanwhile, questions remain about how to prevent such incidents from occurring again as construction and infrastructure repairs continue in the area.
Community Resilience
Despite the inconvenience and stress, residents showed resilience. Medelyn voiced her frustration, saying, “It makes it worse that we have to endure all the construction noise,” highlighting how ongoing projects complicate life in the community.
The assistance provided by the construction workers and local authorities reflects the community’s spirit in times of crisis. Residents and business owners will continue to navigate the recovery process together as clean-up efforts progress.
In Conclusion
The flooding in Marine Parade reminds us of the problems that cities can have when they grow. Right now, everyone is working hard to fix the damage, but this situation shows that we need better plans to prevent plumbing problems in the future. With their strong sense of community, the people there will surely come together to rebuild and bounce back.
