RURAL communities – coastal and inland – became isolated from the rest of the country on Saturday when heavy rain caused an almost unprecedented number of reported landslides and floods reported by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM).
Overnight and morning showers inundated regions from Mayaro to Debe, forcing thousands were remain indoors, inundated by impassable levels of water, the debris from the dozens of reported landslides, and other obstacles.
Others saw their homes damaged by the flooding and were forced to seek shelter.
[caption id="attachment_987719" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Two major landslides and smaller landslips led to the closure of the Lady Young Road in Morvant near the Hilton hotel to allow workers to clear the debris. - SUREASH CHOLAI[/caption]
The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management said at least ten people took shelter at the Plum Mitan Community Center, in the Biche Administrative District.
At just after 3 pm on Saturday, the Meteorological Service issued a riverine flood alert – yellow, taking effect until Monday, unless revised.
It said accumulated rainfall has caused major river levels across Trinidad to be near or above 80 per cent, and smaller watercourses at "critical levels".
At around 2 pm, the Caparo and Caroni River (at El Carmen), were reportedly at 98 and 95 per cent capacity, respectively, while Caroni River (at Bamboo #3) and North Oropouche both at 80 per cent capacity, leaving many internal communities vulnerable to serious flooding.
Periods of rainfall, the TTMS said, will likely continue over the next 24-36 hours, which will result in further elevation of the river levels.
"As a result, there is now a moderate risk to public safety (and) livelihood."
The ODPM also issued a statement on Saturday afternoon, highlighting the dozens of areas where landslides and floods have been reported.
The South Central Region alone accounted for over half reported incidents of flooding across the country, with parts of Couva; Freeport; Caparo; Claxton Bay; Guaracara Road; California; and Point Lisas among the worst affected.
[caption id="attachment_987718" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A boy looks out at floodwaters from the roof of a house off the Gasparillo Main Road, Gasparillo on Saturday. - AYANNA KINSALE[/caption]
There were also landslides recorded in Brasso, Preysal, Gran Couva, Guaracara-Tabaquite Road and Flanagin Town.
Meanwhile, residential flooding in the South West Region has been reported in Penal, La Romain, Debe, Barrackpore. There was one reported landslide in Penal, at Railway Road, San Francique.
In the North West Region, there were landslides in Malick and Lady Young Road, the latter of which was closed to vehicles by the Ministry of Transport on Saturday.
Abattoir Road, located a short distance from City Gate, Port of Spain, has once again experienced near impassable flooding.
Major flooding in the No
