Central Trinidad under water

Waters rose as high as six feet on Tuesday night, flooding homes without warning, and sending people scampering to higher ground.

early yesterday, the damage was clearly visible as people lost most of their household items.. Livestock and other valuables were washed away by the raging floodwaters. By midday yesterday, people were begging the authorities to provide food, clothing and any assistance possible.

Herman Hackette and his relative Sharmaine were the first to be rescued at at about 9.30 am yesterday.

The two who were marooned in their home at Sieunarine Trace, Kelly Village, Caroni, telephoned for assistance. Coast Guard officers used a dinghy to get through the floodwaters and rescued the two.

Most of the people who were marooned in their homes were forced to stay through fear of looting. Those who exercised the option to get out of the floodwaters were taken to shelters set up by the Office of Disaster Preparedness (ODP).

Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation chairman Patricia Mejias and her team of councillors surveyed the damage and were coordinating relief operations in the areas most affected.

Member of Parliament for Caroni East Ganga Singh was also on hand to get a first hand view of the flooding.

He told Newsday that people are suffering without food, clothing or a dry place to sleep. He accused engineers at the Ministry of Works of failing to deliver on a promise to phase out widespread flooding in Central Trinidad.

Singh also accused the Office of Disaster Preparedness of moving too slow on relief efforts.

Most of the affected persons claimed that the flooding was the worst they had ever experienced and argued that they needed compensation for their losses. Late yesterday, residents of Warrenville began experiencing massive flooding in their area.

In a release issued yesterday, the ODP assured the public that it will continue to respond to calls for assistance .

The fire service and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force are actively engaged in search and rescue exercises throughout the affected areas.

Priority is being given to the clearing of debris from roads so as to open up the roads to evacuate people and deliver relief supplies.

Additionally, food is being airlifted to some areas in the east to persons who are surrounded by water. Villagers of Frederick Settlement, Caroni, were advised yesterday that the water levels in the Caroni River are continuing to rise, and they should remain on the alert in case of flashflooding.