Several residents in communities surrounding the Caroni river have had to flee their homes after it burst its banks early Thursday morning, flooding their homes.
In St Helena, one of the more severely affected areas, residents told Newsday the scene was reminiscent of the floods which devastated several areas across Trinidad and Tobago in 2018.
The Met office issued its second orange-level riverine flood alert on Thursday.
The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) also issued a statement saying the Caroni river at Bamboo #3 plateaued immediately under 80 per cent capacity, and the South Oropouche river was at 80 per cent capacity and receding slowly.
“If the water keeps coming up, it will be 2018 all over again,” said Peter Cyrus, who lives with his family at Caroni North Bank Road in St Helena.
Cyrus said, around 2.30 am his brother-in-law woke him from sleep warning him that water was entering the house.
“Within a half an hour water was in the yard, and about two hours after that the yard was flooded.”
[caption id="attachment_908411" align="alignnone" width="1024"] St Helena residents leave the area on Thursday after the Caroni river overflowed causing massive flooding. - Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]
Newsday also visited Madras Road where flood waters entered most residents’ homes.
One resident, who requested anonymity, said she noticed the flood waters rising around 7 am.
“We get flooded out all the time. A couple weeks ago we were flooded out as well. It was a Wednesday.”
She said whenever there is heavy rainfall, they brace themselves for flooding. On Thursday, however, they had to leave their home. A friend helped their evacuation with a boat.
Another resident told Newsday he and many of his neighbours packed their things and left quickly.
Senior disaster management coordinator with the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government Jerry David told Newsday, in a phone interview, several areas were affected including Kelly Village, Sheldon Trace, El Carmen, Constantine Trace, Santa Monica Trace, and Upper Las Lomas.
“We suspect the same people who were impacted in 2018 may have been impacted (today) because of this riverine flooding.”
David said flooding is one of the many hazards for communities on the Caroni plains, as well as heavy winds and falling trees in the rainy season.”
He said the division received reports of people marooned in their homes.
[caption id="attachment_908412" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Sadeek Razack looks at his car as it remained in the flood waters along the St Helena Bypass Road in Kelly Village, Caroni on Thursday. - Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]
“They are being rescued. The TT Coast Guard is assisting, and residents are being moved to safer locations.”
He said they tried assessing the area, but the water levels made it difficult.
“It was too much water. We have to wait for the tide. When the water goes out then we wil
