Heavy rain causes flooding, landslides in St. Thomas

 

Heavy showers affecting the island caused flooding and landslides in sections of St. Thomas on Friday.

 

At least 15 students and several teachers at the Johnson Mountain Primary School had to be rescued by community members after they were marooned following a massive landslide along the main thoroughfare Friday afternoon.   

 

The main road at Sunny Hill was also blocked by landslide and fallen trees, while the Wilmington Road was also blocked.

 

Residents say people travelling to catch flights were unable to get through. 

 

Speaking on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines on Friday evening, Stephen Shaw, Communication Manager at the National Works Agency, said the NWA was responding to reports of blocked corridors and flooded communities in St. Thomas.

 

"The Plantain Garden River is in spate and it has caused some problems in the Bath area. There is also a report of flooding in the Sunny Hill area. Wilmington is also being impacted. We are checking on reports of a landslide in the Johnson Mountain community," he noted.

 

Mr. Shaw urged road users to be cautious. 

 

"What I also want to also say to members of the public, especially in areas that are now receiving sometimes very heavy rainfall, is that caution should be exercised in using all roads. There are some sections of corridors that are low-lying and lend themselves to flooding. And so I want to urge all road users at this time, as the island continues to be impacted by heavy rainfall, to exercise extreme caution and to protect themselves from any unforeseen occurrences."

 

Radio Jamaica's St. Thomas correspondent Henry Shirley said the Hordley Crossing was impassable to smaller vehicles on Friday evening due to flooding.

 

Motorists were also urged to avoid the Bachelor's Hall area, between Bath and Hordley, as well as the Copper Lane area.