May 20, 2017

The Watchers News | May 17, 2017 | Extreme rainfall hits Jamaica, major flooding and landslides | .. A trough across the central Caribbean is dumping extremely heavy rain on parts of Jamaica since Saturday evening, May 13, 2017, causing major flooding and landslides. Flooding affected 10 of country's 14 parishes, with Clarendon the worst hit. The Health Ministry has issued gastroenteritis and leptospirosis alert. Met Service said the island experienced an unprecedented level of rainfall. Some parishes saw more rain over the four days than the usual average for the entire month of May .. |


Loss of bridges, multiple damaged roads and marooned communities have made Clarendon the parish worst affected by more than 72 hours of heavy rainfall, The Jamaica Gleaner reports.

Rio Minho overflowed its banks in several sections of northern Clarendon causing sever damage in many communities. Near Pennack Bridget, farmers have lost crops and evacuated their homes. In southern Clarendon, extensive flooding was reported in Banks, Sedge Pond, Water Lane, Foga Road, McGilchrist Pen and Four Paths. Alley bridge was temporarily impassable while the Green River and Dam Head bridges along Rio Minho were washed away.

Office of Disaster Preparedness reported Aenon Town in Clarendon North Western inundated with up to 5.2 m (17 feet) of flood waters.

Scores of motorists and pedestrians were also left stranded in Pennants Square as the Rio Minho, which was in spate and overflowed on to the roadway, deposited truckloads of silt......[READ MORE]