Woman and child escape death

A Dibe, Long Circular woman and her young child escaped death yesterday, when a bedroom and gallery of their rented house were demolished by a landslide. The woman, who remained unidentified up to late yesterday, fled the scene after the incident. Evris Baptiste, owner of the house was in a state of shock over the damage and was assisted by residents of the area who were busy clearing debris from the mudslide. Sunday Newsday learned that around 9.30 am yesterday, persistent rainfall resulted in a water course from a spring which runs adjacent to the house becoming filled and overflowing, causing the soil around the house to be washed away. Shortly afterwards, a loud crashing sound was heard as the front part of the house collapsed. Luckily, the woman and her young child, who had moved into the house only two weeks ago, were in another part when the slide hit.

They hurriedly left the scene. Angry Dibe residents told Sunday Newsday they have been begging the authorities to clear away trees, which are threatening to fall with landslides and to clean the water courses, but to no avail. They feel that with the next heavy rainfall, lives could be lost in similar fashion to what happened in Tobago. Residents pointed to a huge Samaan tree, which they feel could come crashing down onto a house located opposite the one owned by Baptiste. They also pointed to a continuous flowing spring which they feel could be cleared and possibly diverted to avoid further landslides.