A section of Tanjong Katong Road South dramatically caved in this evening (26 July), causing significant disruption and raising safety concerns. According to eyewitnesses, a black sedan was seen nose-first in a large sinkhole, with water gushing from the ground—suspected to be from a burst pipe underneath the road.
Road Cave-In Sparks Chaos Near Tanjong Katong MRT
The incident occurred around 5:55pm near Tanjong Katong MRT station. A driver, surnamed Tan, told local media that he was passing by when he noticed the ground suddenly give way on the opposite lane. “The sinkhole was huge—almost the size of a room,” he said. At that moment, there were no emergency services on site, but he mentioned hearing police sirens shortly after.
Initial footage shared by another passerby showed a black car partly submerged in the sinkhole, its bonnet plunged into the opening. A steady stream of water was seen flowing from the cavity, suggesting an underground pipe might have ruptured in the process. Several workers—likely from a nearby construction crew—were seen quickly cordoning off the affected area with safety barriers.
Police & LTA Alerted, Area Cordoned Off for Safety
By the time reporters from 8world News reached the scene, the road was flooded and traffic had come to a standstill. Pools of water had formed across the lanes, and vehicles were forced to make U-turns to avoid the site. Work crews and safety marshals were stationed nearby to divert traffic and keep curious onlookers away.
Authorities have yet to confirm the exact cause of the collapse, but early speculation points to erosion due to a broken water main. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Singapore Police Force (SPF) have been contacted for official updates.
Infrastructure Safety and Public Concern
This incident raises renewed concerns about ageing infrastructure and the risk of underground pipe failures in high-traffic zones. Such road cave-ins, though rare in Singapore, have happened in past years due to water seepage or sewer issues.
Members of the public are advised to avoid the Tanjong Katong Road South area while repair and investigation works are underway. It remains unclear how long the affected section will be closed, but emergency responders are prioritising safety and traffic redirection.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.