Torrential rains spawn floods in south and west
Ever since Hurricane Iris carved a path of destruction across southern Belize last October, Belize’s weather has been remarkably benign. The recent dry season proved mercifully short and the seasonal onset of rain fell gently and evenly… until now that is. Tropical waves moving across the country have dumped up to twenty-three inches in some areas and the result has been severe flooding, primarily in the southern half of the country. Several older bridges are underwater in the Toledo District, creeks have eroded approaches to bridges on the Hummingbird Highway, parts of Belmopan have experienced localised flooding, while the Sibun and Macal rivers are rising rapidly and may threaten farms and homes in low lying areas. From early afternoon Belize City has been cut off from the south and west by rising waters at mile forty-six and thirty-nine on the Western Highway. News 5’s Ann-Marie Williams, George Tillett and Stephen Ferguson are just off the road with the latest update.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
“Two days of heavy rain in St. Matthews Village at mile thirty-nine on the Western Highway is to blame for ten to fifteen feet of water. Several families had to be evacuated, and the Beaver Dam Bridge behind me is impassable to small vehicles and cars.”
Even SUV’s, which are considerably higher, couldn’t make it. The lines went on for miles and several drivers like Maria Martinez from Cayo were hoping the waters would recede so she could get home.
Maria Martinez
“I took my friend to the airport this morning and I passed here like around 11 o’clock and this bridge was almost covered. So I tried to rush it, but I couldn’t make it and that’s how I got stuck here.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Did you send a message to family or friends to try to come rescue you? What are you planning to do tonight if the water doesn’t go down?”
Maria Martinez
“Well right now I see the tractor took over a smaller vehicle than this, so if he could go over, maybe I can go over too, I hope.”
Several of the residents who call St. Matthew’s Village home for over two decades, say never in the history of Hurricane Keith, Iris or Mitch have they seen this type of flooding. They also say that the flooding literally crept up like a thief in the night.
Elvira Guzman
“I have something like twelve steps and only four mi left up to when I left. And just now when one ah my friend gone dah back deh (there) inna (in) the canoe, he say no step left out, it just left fi (to) go inside now through the door. So that dah weh (is what) I di tell my bwai (boyfriend) I the worry bout, because I have some glass things with my radio pan (on) it and I fraid when the water get in, the water wah start to move them bout and that might drop off. So that dah (is) all my worries right now because down stairs weh (where) we deh (are), I mi have the stove, refrige, lockers, chest of drawers and beds and mattress. And all a that di float right now inna the downstairs. I noh know weh wah (what will) happen to dem deh (them) and deh dah (those are) big pieces, because I just buy them, just six to eight months.”
Elvira Guzman, mother of six, says she’s never seen flooding in this area in her ten years of living in the village.
Elvira Guzman
“Due to weh my husband neva deh yah (not being here), I couldn’t get out nothing, dah (it was) just me and the lee small kids them. Then I couldn’t find nothing fi tek (to take) off the stove fi ker (to carry) it upstairs nor nothing like that. And the water mi (was) well strong because then from weh the hydro deh, the water come in the shot, so I me well strong, so I neva tek no chance and try go out deh because I no know fi swim.”
This is where Gwenneth Flowers and her two sons reside. Today life is different, she says she’s practically homeless.
Gwenneth Flowers
“I feel bad right now because I noh have nothing, nothing. I only have like two suit of clothes fi mi (for my) back. everything food, refrige, stove, everything deh inna the house, everything.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“You didn’t have time to take out your things?”
Gwenneth Flowers
“We could ah mi take out some, but then I neva think the flood mi wah come like this. We put some of the things like the refrige high and the TV high, but dah white box dah weh the refrige mi deh pan and that di float inna the house right now.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“You’ve never seen flooding like this before?”
Gwenneth Flowers
“No, neva, I deh yah (I’ve been here) two years…”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Have you ever spent a hurricane here?”
Gwenneth Flowers
“Yes, I spend Iris in there.”
Some other families, a little bit more fortunate, saved several pieces of furnishings, including the chickens.
Karisha Sutherland is hoping the water will go down to get her life back to normal.
Karisha Sutherland
“The water is inside my house, my things get wet and I can’t get anything out of it.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“You have a warm bed to sleep in tonight?”
Karisha Sutherland
“Yes, my mother’s bed.”
Which is four miles down the road. Although several residents have to secure warms beds with families, they’re hopeful the various rivers will soon crest and all will be well. Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
According to Chief Meteorologist Carlos Fuller, rain cells continue to develop in the west and along the coast. While most of the flooding remains localised, it is expected that major rivers like the Macal and Sibun could begin overflowing their banks by Friday if rains don’t let up. Late word from the Hummingbird Highway indicates that the western approach to the Sibun Bridge has washed away, and although the bridge is intact, there is a growing number of people stranded on both sides. Crews are currently attempting to erect walkways for pedestrians to cross and buses are being called from Belmopan and Dangriga to enable those people to reach home. In Belmopan, the City Council reports that one hundred and fifty-two people are being put up in a public shelter, including thirteen tourists.
