5 Areas Most Prone to Flooding in Singapore (2024)

Flooding in Singapore is actually quite common. All it takes is some heavy rainfall and before you know it, certain flood-prone areas are quickly inundated with water.

Floods have occurred on multiple occasions in 2024. For instance, in May, an amount of rainfall equivalent to 65% of the average monthly rainfall in the month of May was recorded in just 6 hours, triggering flash flood warnings in more than 10 locations and stalling flights at Changi Airport.

Likewise, in February, flash floods affected several parts of Singapore—look at what happened to the East Coast Park carpark.

2023 reported heavy floods as well, with flooding occurring multiple times throughout the year. Check out this flash flood that happened at the end of the year:

2021 recorded a devastating flash flood on April 21, when the nation’s worst climate change nightmares came true. 90% of the average rainfall for the month of April fell in the space of just three hours, causing flash floods in the west and central areas.

We don’t mean to be a Debbie Downer, but what was captured in the videos above could very well happen to you or someone you know. Due to climate change, more violent weather extremes and erratic weather patterns are expected in the future. Hence, flooding could soon become a regular problem during the monsoon seasons.

In this article, we share the top five areas in Singapore most prone to flooding, as well as tips on what to do if your home floods.

Knowing which areas in Singapore are prone to flooding can help property purchasers make smarter buying decisions, and enable residents in such areas to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves in the event of a flood.

Based on the 31 Jan 2024 update of PUB’s list of flood prone areas in Singapore, here are some areas that are particularly vulnerable:

The Bukit Timah area, particularly on the eastern side around Stevens Road and Balmoral Road, is very prone to flooding. The terrain in this area is undulating, which encourages ponding in lower lying spots. Conversely, the Upper Bukit Timah area on the western end of Bukit Timah Road has benefitted from drainage works completed by the PUB in 2019 and is now less flood-prone.

The Tanjong Katong area is home to many roads prone to flooding, and was affected in the recent May 2024 floods. This zone is no stranger to flooding, having been subject to the overflow of the Geylang River until works were carried out in 1993. However, Tanjong Katong continues to be susceptible to flooding as it is home to Singapore’s lowest point. Vulnerable roads include Chin Cheng Avenue, Jalan Seaview, Tanjong Katong Road South, Lorong H Telok Kurau, Meyer Road, Fort Road, Arthur Road, Margate Road and Ramsgate Road.

As its name suggests, River Valley is a low lying area bordered by more elevated areas like Fort Canning Hill. The Singapore River, which extends into the area from Marina Bay before flowing into the Alexandra Canal, can cause flooding when it overflows. Lower Delta Road, Alexandra Road, Jervois Road, Bishopsgate Road, Indus Road and Zion Road are particularly flood-prone.

Farrer Park, including Thomson Road/Derbyshire Road and Farrer Park Field, as well as neighbouring Jalan Besar, are prone to flooding due to their low lying profile and poor drainage. The area’s main waterway, the Rochor Canal, is prone to overflow, although that might change in the next few years as the government is currently building an underground tank to improve drainage.

The long stretch from Commonwealth to Queenstown is situated on low lying land that has the tendency to fall victim to "ponding". Commonwealth Avenue, Commonwealth Drive and Queensway are particularly vulnerable.

Those living on the ground floor or in landed property are the most vulnerable to having their homes flooded, but even residents on higher floors might not be spared if there is seepage or run-off into the property or corridor.

If it starts to rain heavily and you think your home is at risk of flooding, the first thing you should do is to unplug all electrical appliances or turn off the electricity completely. You don’t want to cause a power trip, like what happened to Jade:

"I had no idea my house was turning into the Titanic until the water reached the power sockets. This tripped power in the house, and when the wi-fi cut, I knew something was wrong," she said.

Once flooding starts in your home, do not attempt to pull out any plugs in areas that are already wet as you might be electrocuted. Instead, you should turn off the power via the fuse box.

You also want to move your belongings in affected areas to higher spots in the home, particularly those that are valuable or risk water damage. If your home does not have an upper floor, you can perch your items on top of furniture.

If you notice fire or sparks at any time, call 995 immediately and evacuate your home if it is possible to do so safely.

If you have suffered any insurable damage, contact your insurer as soon as you can after the damage occurs to inquire about how to make a claim. You should record evidence of the flood and damage through photos and retain any necessary documents such as receipts for submission to your insurer.

Once the rain has stopped, you can start to drain your home, open the windows and clean up the mess. Don’t forget to take stock of the damage and take photos to submit to your insurer before restoring your home to its former state.

According to the PropertyGuru Group Sustainability Report 2023, climate change is making it more and more important to focus on climate risk when making residential and commercial real estate decisions. Buying or renting property is a major milestone for everyone, and understanding the risks of flooding can make us better informed.

The report introduces PropertyGuru’s Liveability Index, comprising the following factors:

– Housing affordability

– Neighbourhood amenities and opportunities for convenience, engagement and wellbeing

– Environmental considerations (eg. air pollution, rainfall, temperature)

– Transport accessibility

– Opportunities for people to reach professional and financial aspirations

From the above factors, it is clear that liveability goes beyond utilitarian considerations like price and size, to include factors such as sustainability and community.

As climate change pushes weather phenomena to the extremes, it will be increasingly important to choose a home that stays protected from climate risks such as flash floods or rises in sea level. Steps taken could include checking the elevation of areas on a Singapore flood map, not buying a home in flood-prone areas, choosing a property on a high floor, and making sure you have a good home insurance plan.

Failing to consider climate change could have a negative financial impact and also affect the value of your home. Water damage is notoriously expensive to rectify, and you might find yourself spending a fortune on mould removal services or removing water stains in the wall.

If you have a home insurance or home contents insurance policy, you might or might not be covered for floods, depending on the policy you have purchased.

If you have purchased an Insured Perils plan, you will need to look through your policy to see if floods are included under the list of perils you are protected from. Two home policies covering the same perils may not have the same exclusions. Also, in the event of an insured loss, be prepared to submit details of your belongings and proof of their existence.

Home insurance not only covers any damage to your property itself, but also in many cases any fixtures, fittings or renovations undertaken on your property that might have been damaged in the flood. Depending on your plan, you might also be able to receive payouts for certain personal belongings that have been damaged in the flood, such as artwork or laptops.

With weather patterns becoming more unpredictable and more extreme weather phenomena coming our way, it is worth reassessing your home’s risk of flooding. If your home is located on a low floor in an area that is prone to flooding or that has experienced floods in the past, you should make sure you protect it with a good home insurance policy. You should also ensure that every member of your household knows the safety protocol to follow should your home get flooded.

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