“It is really scary” – El Paso residents face intense flooding as Potaro River overflows

Heavy, continuous rainfall

…abandoned hydropower plant bridge collapses

Residents of El Paso, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) are bracing themselves for the worst as the Potaro River overflows amid intense flooding due to heavy and continuous rainfall in the area.
In addition, a significant part of the abandoned Tumatumari Hydropower Station bridge has collapsed, causing the water to rush with great intensity.
When contacted by this publication, villagers said that the situation is unprecedented. One resident said that in her 31 years of living at El Paso, she has never experienced such flooding.
“It is really scary…the hydro wall break away and so the water rushing more quickly,” she expressed.
Another resident explained that floodwater has submerged two houses while water has started to flow into others.
“We didn’t expect the water to come so high. We had to take a boat and break the roof of a businesswoman’s house to get out her things,” the resident explained.
Meanwhile, a section of the road leading to El Paso has been submerged. This has affected vehicles from entering the area.
“You have to drive to a point. Park and take a boat and cross a section of the road because the water so high the vehicles will sink,” a driver noted.
A motorcyclist recalled that he had to hide his motorcycle in the bush nearby and swim across the submerged road to get home to his wife and young children.
When contacted on Monday, Member of Parliament, Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai said she was on her way to the affected area to deliver relief hampers to residents.
El Paso falls under the township of Mahdia, however, when contacted, Mayor David Adams said he could not give an update on the situation as he is in Georgetown.
The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has confirmed that as torrential rain persists across Guyana, all ten administrative regions have been hit by floods.

Malaria, dengue, typhoid
Meanwhile, over in Region Nine, villages are severely affected by the floods caused by heavy rainfall in the area.
Recently, villages of the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo district of Guyana were severely flooded, which was caused by the heavy rainfall in the area. Many farmlands, cattle, and livestock were lost while the flood waters forced the villagers to evacuate.
The Civil Defence Commission, Public Works Ministry and Regional Democratic Council of Region Nine partnered in order provide shelters and relief hampers to the residents who were severely affected by the floods.
During a call-in interview on Monday with the Regional Executive Officer, Karl Singh, he said that there is an outbreak of malaria, dengue, typhoid and other water-borne diseases in the entire North Rupununi District.
Malaria is transmitted through the Anopheles mosquito while dengue is transmitted through the Aedes mosquito, both also carry other diseases as well. These mosquitoes breed well in flood waters in large numbers leading to these outbreaks.
The REO stated that a health team has been situated in the said district, which is currently doing blood smears and tests for the diseases. They are also providing the necessary treatment and advice for patients who have been infected.
The REO stated that the Apoteri, Bai-Shaizon and Shea villages are still currently underwater along with Sand Creek where ten homes have collapsed. He also explained that the roads and farms of Massara are completely flooded and that the Public Works Ministry is currently trying to assist in the said area.