Jamaica – Hundreds of Homes Damaged After Floods in Clarendon

by in Americas, News

Heavy rain from Friday 21 April, 2017 caused flooding in parts of southern Jamaica.

Images from news reports and Social Media showed cars submerged in flood water almost 2 metres deep in some areas, particularly around Clarendon.

Jamaica Meteorological Service issued flash flood warnings on Friday, 21 April, saying that “a trough across the western Caribbean and Jamaica continues to influence the weather conditions across the island.”

Further heavy rain has been reported over the last 24 hours. Kingston recorded 64.2 mm of rain in 24 hours to 23 April, and Montego Bay 63.4 mm during the same period. Heavy rain has also affected neighbouring countries. Camaguey in Cuba reported 61 mm of rain between 22 and 23 April. In Haiti, local media report that 2 people have died in flooding in Sud Department.

Clarendon Municipal Corporation (CMC) says an estimated 5,000 people were affected by the floods and around 1,000 homes damaged. Neighbourhoods of the parish worst hit include Bucks Common, Denbigh, Nineteen Miles, Palmer’s Cross, Sandy Bay, Milk River, Swansea and Bucknor.

Four shelters were opened in Clarendon to house those displaced by flooding. Evacuations were carried out in Clarendon although numbers of those evacuated are unavailable.

Areas around St Catherine and St Thomas were also affected by flooding, with several landslides also reported in St Thomas.

Floods in Clarendon, Jamaica, April 2017. Photo: National Works Agency
Floods in St Catherine, Jamaica, April 2017. Photo: National Works Agency

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