Heavy rains cause major losses for Singapore businesses

Singapore is experiencing heavy rain due to a monsoon surge, which may continue until Friday, March 21. Flood risk warnings have been issued in several areas as the rain persists. Many outdoor businesses, especially at the Ramadan bazaar in Kampong Gelam, are feeling the impact. Stall owners report declines in sales of up to 50%. Some are exploring online sales and creating new menu items to help recover their losses. The national water agency, PUB, reported significant rainfall totals over the past two days. Jurong West recorded 318mm, while the eastern part of Singapore saw 298.4mm. These amounts surpass the average rainfall for March, which is about 209.7mm. There was also minor flooding reported on Mountbatten Road, where a stretch of about 15 meters was underwater for around two hours on Thursday. Moreover, travelers are advised to postpone any non-essential trips to Johor this weekend because of the rain and school holiday traffic, leading to congestion at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.