Flood Waters Continue to Rise; Spanish Lookout Cut Off from the Rest of the Country
Now a tropical depression, Eta is predicted to gain strength to become a tropical storm as it heads toward Cuba and Florida in the next few days. It has left behind at least thirteen deaths due to floods and landslides as the storm barrelled Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras. In Belize, heavy rains and flooding continue here, especially in the west where the rivers are rising to dangerous levels. The Iguana Creek Bridge is submerged and the Spanish Lookout community is cut off from the rest of the country. Tonight, we have coverage from affected areas and we start with reporter Duane Moody.
Duane Moody, Reporting
We headed back west today where the situation on the ground has worsened. Water levels went up even higher overnight to dangerous levels. By one p.m. today, the Spanish Lookout community had been cut off from the rest of the country as all access roads, bridges and ferries are either under water or closed.
Earl Trapp, Mayor, San Ignacio/Santa Elena
“The Mopan River continues to swell and a part of the road right between Bullet Tree and Santa Familia is impassable, so that creek is flooded already and no vehicles can come or go. So that means that we cannot reach Spanish lookout, neither through Bullet Tree or by the Iguana Creek Bridge.”
Also cut off from the rest of the Cayo District is Santa Familia Village as the creek that leads to that village off the Bullet Tree Road is impassable. When we arrived in Bullet Tree, the Salvador Fernandez Bridge was locked off from vehicular traffic and it was anticipated that within an hour, pedestrians would neither be able to cross. Estevan Perez was helping with the transportation of supplies, but that was discontinued.
Estevan Perez
Estevan Perez, Resident, Bullet Tree Village
“Since this morning, we are seeing a rising of the river. About t10:15, I crossed the bridge and when I came back, the bridge was under water already. So that’s nature. It is something that we experience all the time with floods like these.”
Duane Moody
“I think the last time something like this was experienced was back in 2008.”
Estevan Perez
“Yes, 2008. We see flood rising over the railing of the Salvador Fernandez Bridge and we are looking to see the same thing this time again or maybe worser.”
Duane Moody
“I understand that you have been taking some people across. Talk to us about that.”
Estevan Perez
“Well what happen is that the people have some people across the river at El Pilar Farm, so they are taking food for the people that are stuck back there. So I willingly crossed them about fifteen to twenty minutes ago and since then the water has increased even higher.”
Al Westby
Al Westby, Central Regional Coordinator, NEMO
“This is the main entrance which divides the village so we brought in our relief and supplies personnel to do an assessment to see what help would be necessary. I know that drinking water would be the main things because most of these villages depend on the rudimentary water system and when it floods that system is damaged.”
Several properties are under water, including resorts. As early as Wednesday, the water began rising at Raw Spa; today several sleeping quarters and the restaurant are under several feet of water.
Voice of: Ras Paw Employee
“I just move the bed downstairs and some things weh mi deh yah and I out the breaker ina this cabana. This [bleep] di come up fast.”
In the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, as predicted, water levels rose overnight to the Cayo Welcome Centre. It was an unbelievable sight; businesses along the street of road in the centre of the town were closed as the waters were up and flowing inside. The market was under two or three feet of water and residents waded through the water to get to their destinations. The area has been blocked off from vehicular traffic. Mayor Earl Trapp says that early this morning, B.E.L. was in the area to cut off power.
Earl Trapp
Earl Trapp
“It is projected that the water will reach all the way by Courts; we are just here by the Welcome Centre and the water is about the walls or the perimeter of the welcome centre and rising. B.E.L. was called early this morning as they had indicated whenever the water level is rising to just before the meter bank to call them and they came in and did the disconnection from the market. And I hope that they did the same for these businesses behind us because there is a meter bank here with about eight meters so I hope that everything is disconnected because I believe that water will reach to that level and it could be dangerous if people are standing in the water. I don’t see the businesses reopening before next week Friday, next weekend so I am sure we are going to go through elections next week Wednesday and those businesses there will be closed.”
Rains are expected to continue over the next two days and while the situation on the ground is already dire, the forecast is for water levels to rise even more. NEMO’s Central Regional Coordinator, Al Westby says that residents, who need assistance, must do so before it gets too late.
Al Westby
“This is a couple days more; we have more rain so we are encouraging everybody if you are still back there, please come out within the daytime situation. A lot of people want to call us at night to come and rescue them. We can’t do that. We won’t risk, especially our soldiers, who are out here day and night with us. We can’t risk public officers’ lives. Be your first responder, be the first one to try and safe yo life and then we come and help you out.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
Late this evening, Mayor Trapp informed News Five that the route for buses has been changed. Buses will now stop at the Falcon Field and cross the new bridge and onto Loma Luz Boulevard for the next couple of days. This is to avoid the downtown area, which has been closed due to the rising water levels.
