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

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — A two-hour downpour triggered flash flooding in Kampung Melayu Subang, Malaysia, with the Jalan Jati Bridge over Sungai Damansara forced to close due to the erosion of the riverbank. The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department Operations Division Assistant Director, Ashrul Riezal Asbar, clarified that the flash floods were a result of the drainage system being overwhelmed by the high volume of water, rather than unusually high tides.

He stated that water levels in the impacted areas are currently decreasing. The Selangor Public Works Department (JKR) reported that the bridge in Section U6, Kampung Melayu Subang, was shut down for all vehicles due to the significant erosion of its abutment structure. This erosion and collapse were attributed to the rising water levels and strong currents in Sungai Damansara caused by persistent heavy rain.

The JKR has initiated a Traffic Management Plan to control vehicle movement and advised road users to take an alternate route via Lorong Cempaka, following the signs directing them to do so at the site. Temporary repair works are expected to be undertaken in the affected area, contingent upon site safety and the accessibility of construction materials from quarries, as the work coincides with a public holiday period.

Long-term plans include seeking funding for permanent repairs to the bridge abutment structure and reinforcing the banks of Sungai Damansara to ensure the bridge's stability.