Corozal villages flooded, families evacuated

Since Monday, Belize City and the Northern Districts have been experiencing heavy downpours from a flare up of thunderstorms all along the coast of Belize up to Chetumal. The constant rains have caused flooding in a number of villages in the north. The knee high water flooded homes in the low lying areas of the Corozal District and seventy two families had to be evacuated on Tuesday night. While some people were taken to community centers others sought refuge with family members living on higher ground. The evacuation exercise was conducted by the Corozal Human Development Department and volunteers of the Belize Red Cross as well as Gregorio Garcia, area representative of Corozal Southwest. Today a spokesperson from the Human Development Department told News Five that they spent most of the day delivering food supplies to the families who were affected by the flood. It is reported that the waters have begun to recede and most of the families have returned to their homes. Villages affected included Libertad, San Roman, San Victor, Santa Clara, San Narciso and Louisville. According to Carlos Fuller, the storm system has now drifted into the Bay of Campeche forming a tropical depression. Fuller says with the system now passed us, we should expect some improvement in the weather.