Tanah Merah MRT Turns into Unexpected Waterpark
When the skies opened up on Saturday (Nov 12) in the afternoon, a splash‑worthy surprise greeted commuters heading toward Tanah Merah MRT. Water—courtesy of a nearby construction site—league‑starred the entrance like a rogue wave, turning the station’s lobby into a miniature lagoon.
The Drip‑to‑Dive Scene
- At roughly 3 pm, a spill from the adjacent construction site sent a fresh wave racing through the hill‑shaped cut‑out beside the station.
- Commuters found themselves wading through ankle‑high water, filming the pour and sharing it across social media.
- By about 5 pm, the crew from SMRT, construction workers, and other staff had cleared the flood, restoring normalcy and preventing a full-on flood‑festival.
The Quick‑Response Crew
SMRT’s president, Lam Sheau Kai, dropped a quick note to The Straits Times thanking the team for their rapid efforts. He mentioned:
Service Clean & Dry
Good news for rail fans: the heavy water didn’t hit the train schedule at all. All services kept running as usual while commuters enjoyed the brief, unexpected photo‑op.
Why It Happened
Singapore’s weather gods were a bit over-enthusiastic, blasting the island with nearly 90‑percent saturated drains on that Saturday. The Public Utilities Board (PUB) tweeted earlier that day about potential flash‑flood hotspots—Jalan Boon Lay, Lorong Gambir, and Bedok Canal near Upper Changi Road were yellow‑listed as possible problem zones. In fact, the weatherman had predicted this mashing of rain in a wet October, the wettest in four decades, and led readers to expect the “thundery shower drive‑throughs” that could ripple across the city for the next two weeks.
Bottom Line
While some commuters may think they’ve added 10‑minute water operations to their morning commute, SMRT’s prompt action made sure the flood was a splash furiously tamed—a reminder that even construction sites can be a surprise party if you watch the rain overhead!
