See Areas of Flooding, Landslips as Rivers Rise

By Prior Beharry

AS riverine levels rise with high tide at 5 pm on Saturday and an Adverse Weather Alert in effect, Trinidad and Tobago is expected to experience more flooding and landslips.

This was revealed in a virtual press conference on Saturday morning by Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Faris Al-Rawi, Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds, Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan and Minister of Communications Symon De Nobriga.

Al-Rawi said that Minister of Education Nyan Gadby Dolly was monitoring the situation and will me a statement on Sunday regarding schools.

The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) stated in a release on Saturday that the rainfall was affecting its surface water treatment plants in northeast Trinidad ad Tobago.

He said there were flooding and landslips across the country and Sinanan has advised motorists to stay off the roads since emergency vehicles would be using it to clear landslides and respond to problems.

Public Relations Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) Gary Benjamin told AZP News all major water courses were over 80% capacity with some even bursting their banks already.

The Adverse Weather Alert that came into effect at 5 am on Saturday is expected to end at 8 pm.

The TTMS stated that there will be periods of rain and/or showers of varying intensities expected as an active low-level trough traverses westward across Trinidad and Tobago.

It added, “”There is also a 70% (high) chance of heavy showers and thunderstorms that can produce intense rainfall greater than 25mm and in excess of this amount in isolated areas.”

Al-Rawi said no request for shelters has been made as yet but they will be activated once needed.

He advised people in need to contact emergency numbers of their regional corporation.

Hinds said the Fire Service was on high alert as well as the engineering battalion of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force.

There have been reports of landslips at 7^th Avenue in Malick, the Lady Young Lookout and in Champs Fleurs.

Ares under duress include:

• Manzanilla Road remains closed;
• Ortoire – landslips;
• Brasso/Caparo- mudslide between Police Station and Gran Couva;
• Gran Couva – landslip on the hill after the old gas station;
• Williamsville – flooding;
• Navet – flooded;
• Killdeer flooding/landslips;
• Biche – flooding;
• Naparima/ Mayaro Road, Poole – river crossing road.

North Central Region:

• Tacarigua, Churchill Roosevelt Highway, in the vicinity of Orange Grove Road -flooding;
• Arouca at Arouca Main Road – flooding;
• Arouca at Railway Road – flooding;
• Poolside Maracas, St Joseph – flooding;
• Valsayn North at Woodlands Avenue and Princess Elizabeth Street – flooding
• Maracas, St Joseph between La Baja Road and La Mango Road – Landslide.

Central:

• Couva Main Road – flooding;
• Point Lisas at the Southern Main Road – flooding;
• Tabaquite at Mitchell Gap, Brasso Village – flooding;
• Brasso at Brasso Road, in the vicinity of the Police Post – landslide; and
• Preysal at Gran Couva Main Road between La Vega and Massa – landslide.

South West:

• Penal at Suchit Trace – flooding;

East

• Biche at Canque Junction along the Cunapo Southern Main Road – flooding.