High Tides and Rough Sea Conditions Batter Monkey River
Tonight, Monkey River Village in southern Belize is only accessible by sea. Flood waters have completely cut off the village by land. And, while that is the situation those residents are faced with today, Monday brought its own set of challenges. High tides and rough sea conditions dealt a severe blow to residents living along the coast, sending at least one house crashing into the sea. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Today, it was impossible to get to Monkey River Village by vehicle. The river that runs adjacent to the road was overflowing. Flood waters had completely taken over this passageway which is used by villagers from the coastal community to get to work and school. Our attempt at reaching Monkey River by vehicle proved futile. We eventually had to turn back. And, on Monday, high tides, coupled with rains and winds from Tropical Storm Julia’s outer bands, had residents living along the coast dashing to secure their homes from falling into the sea.
On the Phone: Daniel Castellanos, Resident, Monkey River Village
“At the sea front, there was I think they didn’t feel too happy because the sea was lashing their house and the tide come up very high. And, that is only the high tides from the sea, now we the wait on the one coming down from the river. So I figure we will have another high tide whenever, because the rivers suppose to full right now right.”
With all their efforts, residents were unable to stop this wooden structure from falling into the sea. The coastal land under the house had significantly eroded overtime. And, what remained was no match for Monday’s high tide and rough sea conditions.
On the Phone: Daniel Castellanos
“It’s the erosion cause that. Every day the erosion is coming in more to the community, because nothing to stop the sea from hitting the beach. It’s um, I don’t know if unu mih know Ms. Eleanor Stalin, that dah mih her house.”
The house was considered an icon landmark by those in the Village. One social media user noted that the its large balcony facing the sea allowed residents to watch the fishers’ boats head out to the fishing grounds and come back home after a long day. With no entrance and exit by land to and from the community currently, residents are travelling solely boat. But, this mode of transportation is expensive due to the high cost of fuel.
On the Phone: Daniel Castellanos
“Wih road, ih nuh upgrade none at all. The children that goes to high school I don’t know how they will reach now because the lee bus that takes them to high school can’t move. Every day the children that goes to high school. You have about twelve thirteen kids that go to high school.”
Paul Lopez
“And today they are at home?”
On the Phone: Daniel Castellanos
“No, I think they went. Someone took them through sea, but that is a big expense for parents to take their children to school to Mango Creek, because fuel expensive.”
Castellanos, like many of the villagers living along the coastal community, is not pleading for assistance in mitigating this growing problem of coastal erosion.
On the Phone: Daniel Castellanos
“All we hope and wish is that they bring some rocks and boulders and throw along the coastline from the bar mouth to where the cemetery is.”
Paul Lopez
“Some people are suggesting that it is time for residents to evacuate the community, all together leave the community.”
On the Phone: Daniel Castellanos
“It would be nice, but the problem we have is that we can’t get any land at the lets say in Mango Creek, the government is not facilitating us with a piece of land and so.”
Paul Lopez
“So if you got land you would move?”
On the Phone: Daniel Castellanos
“Definitely, because every year this is becoming worst and worst.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
