Saint Vincent – Floods Leave 1 Dead, 1 Missing

Flooding in the Caribbean country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has left 1 person dead and 1 missing.

Heavy rain resulting from a trough system triggered the floods late on 08 November, 2016. Landslides have also been reported which have blocked dozens of roads.

Schools, government offices and some businesses have been closed and all students and civil servants told to remain at home. The ET. Joshua Airport near Kingstown was flooded and was closed until further notice. Some areas have been left without power and drinking water.

The country’s National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) said that flooding has caused damage to several homes on mainland St. Vincent and Bequia. Two shelters have been set up to accommodate people evacuated and, as of late yesterday, were housing around 50 people. Initial assessments suggest that at least 38 homes have been damaged.

The fatality occurred in Bequia, where a 10 year old boy was swept away by flood water. Another young boy, thought to be 8 years old, is missing in Campden Park. The Police and the Coast Guard are currently conducting search and rescue in the Campden Park area for the missing child.

Forecast and Warnings

The latest weather forecast for the country says that more rain can be expected as “a trough system will continue to generate unstable conditions across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines…”

Analysis suggests that these conditions will continue to affect the island during the next 24 hours.

NEMO warned late yesterday:

“Soils are already saturated and some rivers and gutters are still inundated therefore, residents in areas prone to flooding and land slippage should continue to exercise caution and be on the alert.”