Heavy rain causes bridge collapse in Singapore

January 31, 2011 – SINGAPORE – Bridge under construction at Punggol The Waterway collapses. A partially completed bridge at the construction site opposite his house collapsed under the weight of rainwater on Sunday morning, reported The Straits Times Reader Simon Low who took and sent in a picture from his flat in Block 638b Punggol Drive. In an email report to The Straits Times website, Mr Low wrote: ‘This morning, I noticed part of the bridge had collapsed due to the heavy rain. ‘I believe the bridge also acted as a dam, but the water overflowed (from the right side) the partially built bridge, and pushed the bridge away. ‘The banks of the waterway on the right side of the bridge overflowed due to this morning’s heavy rain. I wonder whether it will happen again once the waterway is fully completed.’ –The Strait Times

Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur – Three people died and nearly 30,000 were forced to evacuate their homes Monday after heavy rains closed major roads and caused rivers to overflow in Malaysia’s southernmost state of Johor. The town of Segamat was cut off by flooding and at least two other neighbouring towns were inundated, state Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman said. Three rivers in the state had burst their banks, while five more were recorded at dangerous levels, the irrigation department said. –Earth Times