A surprising incident occurred on Tanjong Katong Road South this past Saturday, July 26, when a sinkhole suddenly appeared right next to an active worksite operated by PUB, Singapore’s national water agency.
The collapse happened around 5:50 PM. Engineers noted that a part called a caisson ring inside a deep, 16-meter sewer shaft, which was under construction, “was observed to have failed.” Almost immediately, the road gave way, and a vehicle that was driving along it fell into the newly formed sinkhole.
The sinkhole was about 2 to 3 meters deep and wide enough to cover two lanes of the road. The female driver was quickly pulled to safety within five minutes, thanks to the swift and crucial help of a migrant worker on the site. She was later taken to Raffles Hospital by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
Immediate Aftermath and Road Closure
PUB took immediate steps to secure the area. The shaft at the worksite was filled back up to make the surrounding ground stable. The sinkhole was filled with a special liquefied stabilized soil, to make the area even more stable before they can begin the road repair work.
PUB has decided to call for a “time-out” across Singapore to review all similar sewer construction projects, to ensure that these ongoing works are safe and prevent similar incidents from happening.
The section of Tanjong Katong Road South between Mountbatten Road and East Coast Parkway (ECP) has been closed off to traffic and will remain closed until further notice while repairs are carried out. Bus services 36 and 48 have also had to change their routes due to the road closure.
Water Supply Issues and Recovery Efforts
Around 6 PM, 18 homes located nearby experienced a disruption to their water supply. Early findings from investigations suggest that underground water mains may have been damaged due to the ground moving when the sinkhole formed.
These damaged water pipes were quickly isolated, and the water supply was fully restored to all affected homes by 2:30 AM on Sunday. Shutting off these water mains also stopped the sinkhole from filling with water, which it had been doing due to the broken pipes.
On Sunday morning, PUB teams began the process of pumping water out of the sinkhole, finishing this task by 1:20 PM. The vehicle that had plunged into the sinkhole was then successfully retrieved at 2 PM on Sunday.
Ongoing Repairs and Investigations
PUB is actively working on the site to ensure the full restoration of the road and to thoroughly investigate what caused the incident. They are collaborating closely with the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA), to oversee all the repair efforts and find the exact cause.
To ensure the safety of the area, a special ground-penetrating radar scan was carried out to check the surrounding ground.
PUB has also provided reassurance that nearby buildings are safe, stating that “Engineers from BCA have checked and affirmed that nearby structures, including One Amber condominium and the landed homes across the road, are not affected by the incident.”
Motorists and commuters using this route are advised to plan their journeys, as the repair work continues.
