Two hours of rain, one closed bridge: Subang’s Kampung Melayu hit by flash floods

Heavy rain lasting approximately two hours led to flash flooding in Kampung Melayu Subang, Malaysia, on November 8, 2022. The Jalan Jati Bridge, which spans Sungai Damansara, was forced to close due to erosion along the riverbank. Selangor Fire and Rescue Department Operations Division Assistant Director Ashrul Riezal Asbar explained that the floods were caused by the drainage system being overwhelmed by the volume of water, rather than unusually high tides.

The Selangor Public Works Department confirmed that the Jalan Jati Bridge, located in Section U6 of Kampung Melayu Subang, had been closed to all vehicles due to severe erosion of the bridge abutment structure. The erosion and embankment collapse were attributed to rising water levels and strong currents in Sungai Damansara caused by continuous heavy rain.

To ensure safety, a Traffic Management Plan was implemented, directing road users to use alternative routes via Lorong Cempaka and adhering to diversion signs at the bridge location. The Selangor Public Works Department has also initiated temporary repair works in the affected area, pending site safety conditions and material availability from quarries.

These repairs are scheduled to take place during a public holiday period. For longer-term solutions, the department expressed the need to seek funding for permanent repairs to the bridge abutment structure and to reinforce the banks of Sungai Damansara, ensuring the stability of the bridge.