Flooding and landslides have affected parts of eastern Jamaica since 27 October after a period of heavy rain.
Jamaica’s National Works Agency (NWA) says that hundreds of people “are now marooned resulting from persistent rainfall over the last 36 hours.” Homes have been damaged by flood water and roads rendered impassable by several landslides.
The affected parishes include Saint Mary, where the Pencar and May rivers have broken their banks, and Saint Thomas, where the White, Yallahs and Negro rivers have all overflowed, according to NWA. Flooding has also been reported in the parishes of Portland and Saint Andrew.
Manager, Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw, says that teams from the NWA are out in the various areas, however, the response is being impacted by continuous rainfall. People are advised not to attempt to use flooded roads, as they could put their lives at risk.
Meteorological Service of Jamaica says that “a broad trough currently across the Central Caribbean continues to produce unstable weather across Jamaica. The trough is expected to linger across the region until Saturday and will continue to influence the weather over the island during the period.”
Met Service issued flood warnings yesterday, 27 October:
“A Flash Flood Warning for low-lying and flood prone areas of Portland, St. Mary and St. Ann, and a Flash Flood Watch for low-lying and flood prone areas of St. Catherine, Clarendon, Kingston and St. Andrew, and St. Thomas.”
The warnings are effective until early Friday, 28 October.
Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) is urging residents of eastern parishes to remain vigilant for continued possibilities of flooding and land slippage as the system continues to move across Jamaica.
ODPEM says that Parish Disaster Committees, emergency managers/responders welfare services and volunteers have been placed on standby.
Social Media
In this photo taken by a St Mary resident the Port Maria Primary schoolyard & surroundings can be seen surrounded by flood waters. #JaToday pic.twitter.com/38AXpNJYEs
— Jamaica Gleaner (@JamaicaGleaner) October 27, 2016
Flood rains in Port Maria in St Mary cause major traffic pile up in the town. The vicinity of the courthouse is reportedly blocked. pic.twitter.com/n54N0mwlha
— Irie FM News Dept. (@IRIEFM_NEWS) October 27, 2016
PHOTOS: Portland badly affected by floodinghttps://t.co/u3FrdfsgfF pic.twitter.com/kyitFbvoTQ
— JamaicaObserver (@JamaicaObserver) October 27, 2016
Images coming in from Spring Gardens and Spanish River in St. Mary as heavy rains cause floods in the parish. #StMaryFloods #Weather pic.twitter.com/kuR3yUTazt
— Television Jamaica (@televisionjam) October 27, 2016
Flood Summary
Last updated: October 28, 2016
Event
Jamaica, October 2016
Type
Flash flood, Landslide, River flood
Locations
A – St. Mary
B – Portland
C – St. Thomas
D – St. Andrew
Magnitude
River level
Overflowing
Pencar River, Saint Mary – October 27 to October 28, 2016
River level
Overflowing
May River, Saint Mary – October 27 to October 28, 2016
River level
Overflowing
White River, Saint Thomas – October 27 to October 28, 2016
River level
Overflowing
Yallahs River, Saint Thomas – October 27 to October 28, 2016
River level
Overflowing
Negro River, Saint Thomas – October 27 to October 28, 2016
Related
Source link : https://floodlist.com/america/jamaica-heavy-rain-causes-damaging-floods-landslides
Author :
Publish date : 2016-10-28 03:00:00
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