The community of Mahdia, in Region Eight (Potaro–Siparuni), having been
Regional Executive Officer Gavin Gounga
subjected to continuous heavy rainfall overnight on Thursday, woke up on Friday to find that the Madhia Creek had overflowed its banks and snaked its way through the community, completely submerging the roadways and partly submerging yards.
More than 400 homes have been affected, and road access to the airstrip has
been completely cut off. No major damage has hitherto been reported in the community, but the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the Region 8 Administration are closely monitoring the situation.
Acting Regional Executive Officer (REO) Gavin Gounga has said the water is receding and
A house under water
residents can expect relief within a short period. “It is just a roadway, and part of the roadway in (the) low-lying area that was covered. There is no rain, so the water is receding,” he said.
“I was informed by the residents that it poured heavily during the night, and that is the reason for the flooding. But we are monitoring the situation, and at this time we are not really (alarmed), because the rain has stopped and the water is running off fast,” he added.
Gounga said floods of this magnitude are expected whenever it rains heavily during the May-June rainy season. As a result, the Region 8 Administration could only keep close watch and advise residents to take precautions if the rain persists.
However, residents told this newspaper that this has been the worst flooding they
The street completely under water
have experienced in more than 20 years.
State Minister Joseph Harmon, at his weekly post-cabinet press briefing, explained that the Government and the CDC are monitoring the situation in Region Eight, and would provide assistance if required.
“Flooding at Mahdia, we are looking at that situation; and as you know, we have a National Watch on Weather and all Emergencies, (which) is being done through the Civil Defence Commission, and they will give me a situation report and their reaction to it,” Harmon informed.
“Mahdia, we will see what information comes. The Civil Defence Commission has propositioned supplies to some of these areas; Mahdia being one, Orinduik being one. And so…anything that occurs in those areas which requires heavy lifting….there is what we call ‘pre-dumping or a forward logistics base established
Thanks to elevation, this house was saved
in these areas’, where initial response can occur,” he added.
Last month, several villages in Regions Seven and Eight were washed away by severe flooding. Water had been recorded at twenty feet high in some areas, but, fortunately, no life was lost. Villagers are still battling to rebuild lost infrastructure, and require immense support to bring their lives back to some normalcy. The CDC and other stakeholders are working to assist those communities.
