Woman Rescued from Sinkhole on Tanjong Katong Road

 

On July 26, 2025, a sinkhole suddenly formed on Tanjong Katong Road South at around 5:50pm, causing a car to plunge into the collapsed section of the road. The female driver was swiftly rescued by nearby workers and later sent conscious to Raffles Hospital for further observation. She was reported to be experiencing muscular pain but was in stable condition.

The incident occurred near a Public Utilities Board (PUB) worksite and caused the closure of Tanjong Katong Road South between Mountbatten Road and East Coast Parkway. This closure led to the diversion of public bus services 36 and 48, affecting stops along Marine Parade, Amber, Mountbatten, and Tanjong Katong roads. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has not yet provided a confirmed date for the completion of repairs.

According to preliminary assessments by PUB, the sinkhole measured approximately 2 to 3 meters deep and was as wide as two lanes. PUB, LTA, and the Building and Construction Authority are closely monitoring the situation and overseeing the repair work to ensure public safety. Workers began pumping water out of the sinkhole on July 27 in preparation for retrieving the submerged car. Authorities stated that this extraction had to be carried out slowly to observe ground stability during the process.

Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC MP Goh Pei Ming and Mountbatten MP Gho Sze Kee visited the site on July 27. Mr Goh emphasized that the ground was assessed to be stable, and repair work would continue cautiously. He added that the authorities were aiming to restore the road before the start of the workweek on July 28, although no exact timeline was confirmed.

Residents reported disruptions to water supply following the incident. PUB acknowledged receiving feedback from about 18 households and deployed water wagons and distributed water bags. By 2:30am on July 27, water supply was fully restored.

Concerns over safety were raised by several residents living near the site. Some reported hearing a loud booming sound just before the sinkhole formed, while others recalled a burst pipe gushing water from the nearby worksite at around midnight on the same day. A healthcare worker, Ms Mathilda Lam, described seeing what looked like a "huge fountain" from the junction hours before the incident.

Although PUB officials confirmed there was no major disruption to water supply, some households did experience lower pressure. PUB has since initiated ground-penetrating radar scans to ensure there are no other hidden underground cavities that could pose additional risks. Recovery operations include draining the sinkhole, extracting the vehicle, and stabilizing and refilling the affected section of road.

Director for PUB’s water reclamation network, Mr Herman Ching, stated that safety of workers remains a top priority during this operation. Investigations into the root cause of the sinkhole are ongoing, though a definitive explanation has yet to be confirmed.

As recovery efforts continued, some residents remained concerned about the structural integrity of the surrounding area. Others appeared less alarmed, continuing with daily activities such as playing tennis and hosting barbeques nearby. Despite the varied reactions, calls for assurance from authorities and condominium management have grown louder, especially among residents living in nearby high-rise blocks like One Amber.

This incident highlights the fragility of ground infrastructure amid ongoing construction activity and raises questions about preventive measures, inspection protocols, and rapid response preparedness.