It was anything but a Merry Christmas for the stall owners at Hua Hua Eating House in Marine Parade, as heavy rain turned the festive day into a waterlogged nightmare.
According to a report by 8world News on December 25, the coffee shop faced severe flooding due to overflowing drains nearby during a storm, causing distress for both diners and stall owners.
A Watery Christmas Scene
Diners found themselves in an unexpected predicament as rainwater gushed into the coffee shop, transforming the surroundings into a water theme park of sorts.
An eyewitness, Mr Wang, a customer enjoying his coffee at the time, shared his experience, stating that more than 20 diners hurriedly left the premises as soon as the flooding began.
A TikTok video circulating online captured the extent of the flooding, with water levels rising to approximately 15cm, creating a challenging situation for both customers and stall owners.
Stall Owners’ Efforts to Combat the Flood
Speaking to 8world, Helen, a Vietnamese food hawker at the coffee shop, revealed that she and fellow stall owners promptly employed a water pump to drain away the floodwaters. The concerted effort continued until 4 pm, when the rain ceased and the water receded.
After the water had receded, they then proceeded to wash the floors, which were noticeably wet and dirty due to the floodings.
Recurring Nightmare for Stall Owners
Regrettably, this is not the first time Hua Hua Eating House has faced such a predicament. Helen disclosed that this marks the second instance of flooding in the past eight months, significantly impacting the business. The stall owners are no strangers to the troubles caused by sudden heavy downpours.
They lamented how business has already been tough for them, and now they have to also worry about the flooding at their coffeeshop, adding that everytime something like this happens, it negatively affects their business as customers become scared to patronise the coffeeshop.
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Image and video source: Mr Wang via 8World News on TikTok