KUALA LUMPUR: Smart tunnel personnel and contractors from the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) are working round the clock to pump out excess water after it was used to divert floodwater on Tuesday. 

A spokesman from tunnel management company Syarikat Mengurus Air Banjir dan Terowong Sdn Bhd said the dewatering exercise was under way as the water level was still high. 

He was not able to confirm when the tunnel would be reopened to traffic. 

"The situation got a bit tricky with the incessant rain on Wednesday and Thursday.  

"This messed up the water levels at both holding ponds in Kampung Berembang and Taman Desa and prevented us from diverting the water to the Taman Desa holding pond," he said. 

The tunnel, which is used as a road tunnel when not used to divert floodwater from Sungai Klang, was closed at 6pm on Tuesday after its operator was notified by DID of the surging water levels as a result of the heavy storm. 

He said that if the tunnel had not been used to redirect the excess water, central Kuala Lumpur would have been flooded