Parts of West Trinidad floodedBy NALINEE SEELAL Monday, November 30 2009
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HELPING HAND: 89-year-old Dellel George of Beechwood Gardens, Diego Martin sits on her chair which firemen lift into an ambulance after she was slight...
HEAVY rainfall between Saturday night and yesterday resulted in several areas in west Trinidad being flooded and some persons spending their weekend marooned at home.
At Morne Coco Road in Diego Martin, a woman was swept away by raging flood waters but was later rescued. The perimetre wall of a house fell onto the main road after the foundation was undermined by the flooding and several homes and business places were waterlogged.
A release from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) revealed that low- lying areas experienced flooding including Raymond Street, Carenage; Goodwood Gardens; Apple Blossom, Petit Valley; Crystal Stream; Victoria Gardens, Diego Martin and Factory Road, Diego Martin.
Officials from the Diego Martin Regional Corporation, Ministry of Works and Transportation, Fire Service and the Special Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT) rendered assistance to affected citizens.
“The ODPM further advises all citizens to remain vigilant and take the necessary measures to safeguard their families and valuables,” the release stated.
Artie DeFreitas, owner of Artie’s Patties, told Newsday that his business place was badly affected by yesterday’s flooding which he blamed on inadequate drainage. He said the drains could not accommodate the volume of water.
“This is the worst I have ever experienced, because my shop is now filled with thick layers of mud and debris and I am yet to put an estimate at my losses,” the frustrated businessman said.
Checks with the Four Roads Fire Station revealed that more than 20 persons telephoned for help.
Shortly after 1 pm yesterday officers responded and rescued persons from their flooded-out homes. They were taken to higher ground and the waters eventually subsided by late yesterday.
A woman who was driving through flood waters at Morne Coco Road, alighted from her car and was swept away by the flood waters. She was rescued by passers-by.
At Broome Street, Morne Coco Road, a wall fell during heavy flooding and residents of Goodwood Gardens also suffered heavy flooding. At Crystal Stream, Petit Valley, several residents told Newsday that water from the nearby mountains and the overflowed rivers also caused massive flooding in their area.
Newsday understands that flooding was also experienced in other parts of the country and this is attributed to the weather condition and heavy rainfall. Meteorologist at the Met Office in Piarco Albert Simon Alexander, told Newsday, “We have a surface to low level trough that passed through the island overnight into yesterday, which caused the moisture to convert to heavy showers.” Rainfall yesterday was measured at 24.7 mm.
He said that the weather pattern is expected to improve today and Alexander added that what was experienced on Saturday night and yesterday is normal this time of the year. He however expressed surprise at the amount of flooding and damage as a result of the heavy rainfall in the western districts.
