Kalain Hosein
Floods continued for the third consecutive day across Trinidad as heavy rains and thunderstorms persisted.
Though the T&T Meteorological Service discontinued their Adverse Weather Alert on Wednesday morning, the inclement weather was not finished with T&T.
Flooding from Tuesday night continued across parts of south and east Trinidad, with residents in Syne Village, Penal, and various areas of Sangre Grande still marooned. Though waters gradually subsided in southern Trinidad through the morning, flooding continued in northeastern Trinidad due to continuous rainfall.
By 11 am, additional rainfall began to move across the island, with thunderstorms affecting northwestern Trinidad during the afternoon. Wind gusts exceeding 40 km/h were recorded, with rainfall rates exceeding 50 millimetres per hour, enough to trigger street/flash flooding in Port-of-Spain.
However, a heavier cluster of showers and rain developed east from the early afternoon, with visibility at the Piarco International Airport dropping below one kilometre. On Wednesday, across the northern half of Trinidad, up to 75 millimetres of rainfall fell, causing flooding in areas that have yet to experience flooding for 2023 to date. Residents of Caroni Village, who were already on edge due to the Caroni River rising to concerning levels, observed street and flash flooding on Wednesday afternoon.
By the evening, additional heavy rainfall began to move across waterlogged areas of Sangre Chiquito, Sangre Grande, Coalmine, and other northeastern communities, raising flood waters once again in parts of Leemond Road, in the vicinity of Seecharan Trace, North Oropouche, as well as El Reposo Road on the Toco Road. Flooding was also reported in Mauscia Lands, Mausica.
According to Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Dr Rai Ragbir, some of the worst affected areas include Nestor Village, La Tosca, and Jarasingh in Guaico Tamana; Sankar Trace in Bonair Road; Gheeraw Trace, De Gannes, and Jawahir, Mosque, and Samlalsingh flat in Cunaripo; Coryal; Little Cora; Sheppard Lane, Lovers Ville, Veronica Boulevard, Superville flat, and Baker Trace in Coalmine; Tantra Terraces, Lezama Trace, Paradise Lane, and Seecharan Park in Sangre Chiquito; Manzanilla Main Road; St. Marie Emmanuel Road; Cumuto Main Road; Plum Mitan; North Oropouche; Leemond Road and San Louies Road, Guaico.
Since Sunday, there have been more than 250 inclement weather impact reports comprising flooding, landslides, wind damage, fallen trees, and affected structures. According to information from the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government, there were 63 new flood reports within the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation yesterday, with two instances of wind damage.
The Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation reported a landslide, a fallen tree, and one affected structure due to inclement weather. Within the Siparia Regional Corporation, there were nine reports of flooding. At the same time, within the Port-of-Spain City Corporation, there was onereport of flooding from its Disaster Management Unit.
According to the Cumuto/Manzanilla MP, the effects of the inclement weather are further exacerbated by illegal land development, which includes diverting natural water courses, deforestation, reclaiming of land along riverbanks, squatting and illegal quarrying/logging, which blocks water courses and displaces of water from natural sources.
However, the rainfall has brought much-needed water to the nation’s four major reservoirs. Though the Hollis reservoir remains below the long-term average, its capacity increased from 42.07 per cent to 47.74 per cent over the last week. All other reservoirs - the Caroni/Arena Dam, the Navet Reservoir, and the Hillsborough Dam- were reduced slightly over the previous week. The Caroni/Arena Dam, at 66.98 per cent capacity, and the Hillsborough Dam, at 68.27 per cent capacity, are above their long-term averages. Seven of the 13 water treatment facilities impacted by inclement weather have returned to service.