Mahdia returns to normalcy after severe flash flooding – Mayor

The mining town of Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), has returned to normalcy after it was hit by the recent flash flooding.

The flood had inundated some 25 homes, creating discomfort and panic for residents of the mining town.
Mayor David Adams, when contacted, told Guyana Times that the water had receded and the town has returned to normalcy while adding that the Centre for Disaster Control (CDC) has stepped in and assisted affected residents with hampers and other items.
A team from the CDC headed by Captain Salim October conducted assessments at several locations which were hit the hardest by the flash flooding. Most of those affected were in houses built close to creeks and outfalls, despite warnings not to do so. The flash flood was as a result of torrential rains.
Cleaning kits were distributed to affected households and additional supplies were mobilised and deployed to the region.
The CDC, through the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS), is continuing to monitor the flood situation in various regions across the country. Currently, the focus is being placed on Aishalton and Sand Creek in the Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo region and Mahdia.

As the rainy season continues, authorities are monitoring the situation closely to ensure that lives and properties remain safe as far as possible.
The Mayor noted that the Council is in the process of discussing the relocation of those affected persons. He added that they will commence interviews for the allocation of house lots in the area in close proximity to the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court, which is being constructed.
Those lots were already identified and will be given to the affected residents free of cost, the Mayor said.
The flash floods affected low lying parts of Mahdia and has highlighted the need for regularisation of properties in affected areas.
Adams pointed out that the residents are being encouraged to relocate and occupy the other areas. He explained that a regularisation plan for the construction of homes is in the future plans for the mining town, which will prevent the recurrence of homeowners being affected by the seasonal flash floods.
Meanwhile, residents have held miners liable for disrupting the drainage network in the area.
Guyana Times has been informed that every time it rains, the water would drain from the hills and exit the land via creeks in the valleys.
However, due to mining activities, the creeks are blocked, providing no pathway for the water to recede. As such, this causes an accumulation of water, which affects households in close proximity to creeks.
“Usually, miners in the creek cause blockage, and so when the rain run off the mountain, it go cause the flooding. It ain’t get enough passage for the water pass through. Mining cause blockage in most of the creek, so that’s what does really cause the flooding but the water does normally run off in a day. It don’t normally remain,” this publication was told.
Residents are certain that if actions are taken to preserve these natural landscapes on a regular basis, the possibility of flooding would decrease.
One resident who has observed this activity, Rohan, told this publication that there has been mild rainfall over the past days, which has posed no major threat.
While the area is prone to flooding during the rainy season, this was the largest flash flood seen in years.
Meanwhile, the Natural Resources Ministry has pledged to desalinate the creek waters to provide for easy drainage.