High tide blows out koker door at Canal Number One
The middle door of the koker at Canal Number One on the West Bank of Demerara was ripped off on Wednesday afternoon during the high tide.
Based on reports, the force of the water rushing inland blew the wooden door off the koker resulting in an unprecedented high level of water. Fortunately, there was no major overtopping of water and the situation had caused little to no impact on nearby residents.
Water rushing inland after ripping off the koker door at Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara on Wednesday afternoon
Officials from the Region Three Democratic Council (RDC) and the National Drainage Irrigation Authority (NDIA) collaborated to mobilise equipment and materials to initially install stop logs and eventually install a new door.
President Dr Irfaan Ali had visited the area to inspect the damages. He was told by engineers that they had to await the tide turning back out before they could start the remedial works which would be around 23:00h when the water level would be low enough. In the meantime, he urged that they mobilise all the equip to the site and be on standby to start the works as soon as possible.
“So, let [us] mobilise all the resources… get the power light out here and everything. So, when [the water] start turning back and you don’t even need to wait for the [water to fully retreat]. If the steel door comes, you can put it in,” the Head of State told the officials.
Guyana Times understands that there was an emergency fabrication of the new stainless-steel door by Gaico Construction and General Services Inc, which was expected to deliver the structure Wednesday night for installation.
According to President Ali, “The new kokers will all be the stainless steel that will avoid this [kind of incident.”
Currently, there are about 10 wooden-door kokers across Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and according to one regional official, these structures are “taking a beating” during spring tides and the high-water levels.
Consequently, the Head of State has instructed that at least two extra steel doors be fabricated and kept as back up for similar incidents in the future as work continues to permanently replace the kokers with steel and concrete structures. (G8)
