Crooked Tree Causeway Flooding; Residents Brace for Higher Water Levels
Turning to the floods, water levels are now rising in the area of Crooked Tree in the Belize District and by noon today, the village looked like an island with water all around. The Crooked Tree Lagoon is overflowing so the water is seeping into homes. Sections of the causeway have washed away and it is expected, it will deteriorate further. A Coast Guard team has been deployed to the entrance of the village to assist in evacuating residents. Here is News Five’s Duane Moody with a report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Two sections of the Crooked Tree causeway are under gushing water as the lagoon reaches its capacity. Travellers are taking caution as they traverse this area because the right hand side of the causeway, when going into the village, is already washing away and in some areas, the access road is under two feet of water. While the causeway is known to flood during the rainy season, in the past seven years, it is hasn’t so today was an unusual sight.
Godfrey Smith Jr., Chairman, Crooked Tree Village
Godfrey Smith Jr.
“So far the water is rising very rapidly and we have advised motorists to try and take their vehicle out; those that use their vehicle to traverse to the city and the towns. And we have also advised people living in low area to move into the shelters. We are willing to assist them in anyway.”
The lagoon is a catchment area for excess water that flows into the Belize River Valley area. Localized rainfall coupled with the flooded Belize River has caused water levels in the village to increase and this morning, residents woke up to water levels up by several feet.
Richard Crawford
Richard Crawford, Resident, Crooked Tree Village
“From about eight o’clock last night, no water neva deh pan the causeway; so from then until now this is what happened.”
Duane Moody
“So almost like an island right yah.”
Richard Crawford
“Right, right. It is almost like an island. Here is low and there is low. So the water just spread out. It is going in the village and the people weh live on the bank side got to evacuate right now.”
Duane Moody
“So the water has been raising rapidly?”
Richard Crawford
“Yes from since last night.”
Several resorts along the bank of the lagoon have taken the precautionary measure to close down while some private homeowners have relocated further into the village. A family of three was evacuated over the last few days and taken to the designated shelter in the village and several others were removed by Coast Guard personnel from an area where water is already making its way into a house.
Godfrey Smith Jr.
“We have already called in the coast guard to take people across and bring them back. We presently, this afternoon, we will be clearing out the route for the boat to pass.”
Chief Petty Officer Rodrigo Rivas
Chief Petty Officer Rodrigo Rivas, Belize Coast Guard
“We supposed to be evacuated some persons in the next few hours. It’s two families that as you can see in that direction; that are already experiencing the water close to their steps. So as soon as we get the vehicle, we will be moving those personnel and hopefully be taking them to safe haven”
A Coast Guard team is stationed at the entrance to the village to assist residents as it is expected that within days, the causeway, which is already being washed away on one side, will soon be impassable by vehicular traffic
Chief Petty Officer Rodrigo Rivas
“Presently here in Crooked tree to render assistance to the village in the event major flooding happens. Just last night, the water was behind that sign and in less than four hours, five hours, see how it is already about twenty feet. But yes, the road is already under water and by tomorrow we will see major changes. In the event there is no vehicle that can be transiting the road, we will be ferrying people from point A to point B and as you can see, tomorrow is the elections so we are preparing for anything at this time and just waiting for further information from my operation personnel and we work from there.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
