As we told you at the top of the news, the water is rising in the Belize District. Hardest hit are the inland areas and Jacqueline Godwin and Alex Ellis did their own tour of the area today.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting.
The high water has flooded several streets in Belama Phases three and four. Presently I am standing in water that is up to my knees. The concern is that if the water level continues to rise, many homes and residents will be affected.
Michelle Flowers, Resident - Belama Phase 3
“Very hard because every morning I have to walk out in this water and every evening I have to come back in it and it is very hard because I work at a bakery and I am always in front of a store baking. So it normally gives me cramps or stuff like that on my hands and feet.”
The water mark on the walls of this cement house in Belama Phase 3 shows you just how high the water rose over the weekend. The owner Mona Lisa Mangar had no choice but to move out
Michelle Flowers,
“Her house got flooded with water to above her bed and stuff. She moved out all her stuff in my father in law’s house and she is somewhere in Lake I living right now with one of her friends.”
So far in Belama Phase four with the exception of a couple of houses the problem is not water but mud.
Natalie Aguilar, Resident - Belama Phase 4
“Hmm it is very hard because you need your rubber boots. Well we have our vehicle parked outside and the rubber boots takes us from outside to where the vehicle is parked.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
You think if the rains keep up and the water keeps on coming down the Belize River, eventually where you live will go under water?
Natalie Aguilar,
“Exactly, exactly. That is what they were saying for true. I feel so. Because my house is three feet off the ground so at least 3 steps will have water.”
Bernardo Duran, Resident – Belama Phase 4
“What happen is that the culvert is too low, and you can right around there and see it, the water just comes out of the creek and when it comes from Phase 3, it comes back in here and that is what causes the water to come back on we here. Here is higher and if they don’t dig that culvert or raise that culvert higher than the creek then the whole of here will flood because this water when it comes from here goes down into phase 3 and this is what is causing it because here will hold no water. As you can see this drain is going and it has no where to come out.”
The high water has also made it difficult for residents to freely get around
and in some locations only high vehicles can access the flooded area. According to the Belize District Coordinator for Belize City, Councillor Philip Willoughby the Belize City Council Emergency Management team committees, have been helping people with transportation.
Councillor Phillip Willoughby, Belize District Coordinator NEMO
“The main concern right now is the water that is settling in this particular area, respectively three and four, and also the need for purified water for the households. Those are the two immediate concerns that they have. For me the one I have is the concern of the water coming down at this time that we saw yesterday in the Boom area, in the Belize rural area and how that will impact and affect us.
We had to evacuate a couple families. Those persons that were evacuated were taken to friends and other family members. All our thirteen committees are on alert and we are monitoring the situation and providing that anyone needs to be definitively go to a shelter then the shelters will be opened and like I said all the rest of related committees are on alert and ready to react.”
As we travelled further up north and into the community of Ladyville village it was evident that the Belize River is rising. In fact the water has now flooded the banks by Manatee Lookout situated across from the entrance to Vista Del
Mar and there was not a dry spot to be found inside the compound.
Jacqueline Godwin,
When did the water started to affect your establishment?
Jamiel Estephan, Owner - Manatee Lookout
“Well it started from two days ago. Actually today is Monday so Saturday it started to affect it.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Since the water started flooding Manatee Lookout, has it risen?
Jamiel Estephan,
“Yeah it has rise a couple more inches and then when the high tide comes in it rises up a little more.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Are you concerned this is going to get much worse?
Jamiel Estephan,
“Umm I think it will if it keeps raining in the Cayo area and the height that it is reaching now, I believe the water hasn’t all reached down here yet and so hopefully it doesn’t get any worse but if the weather holds up maybe we’ll have a chance that it won’t get worse than it is right now.”
As we continued travelling north the situation did not improve. Sandhill and gardenia villages have not been spared.
I am walking along the corridor of Guadalupe Roman Catholic Primary School in Sandhill Village. Clearly as you can see, it is under water. To minimize
the losses that will be incurred, on Friday the principal, teachers, and students have been cleaning up classrooms that are now flooding.
Jacqueline Godwin,
When did water start flooding your school?
Ryan Galvez, 12 years old
“From Saturday we saw it at the back, it was rising higher and higher. It came from the river back by the water service.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
And how much further has the water spread onto the land?
Ryan Galvez,
“A lot because when we were here, I think Thursday, it was right at the back by the berry’s tree there, it was right there, and it came up a little higher during the weekend.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Obviously inside the classrooms are flooded.
Ryan Galvez,
“Yes mom. Friday we picked up all the boxes and things so that they cannot get wet in the class and we cleaned up the class before we went. I know when we get back to school on, I don’t know, but we will have to clean up the class.”
What is also under water is part of the Northern Highway that runs through Gardenia Village. The culvert by mile twenty one and a half was seriously undermined by the strong river currents and ministry of works has been dumping material to make it safe for motorists. Along the way we also saw the rising water had completely surrounded homes along the Northern Highway and at some locations the homes were already flooded. While residents who have been mostly affected have been moving out of their flooded homes cattle owners have also been rescuing their animals that is exactly what we found at the cut off to grace bank.
Winston Davis, Resident - Grace Bank Village
“We need to move them because they don’t have nothing to eat. The flood is covering the land and there is no land and nothing to eat and if they continue in the water too long they hooves will lift and so we need to get them to higher ground.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
How many more cattle is left to the back?
Winston Davis,
“We had about 25 more.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
This is a difficult thing, as I watch you guys trying to move the cattle. It is not easy work.
Winston Davis,
“No it is not easy work, it is very hard work when it comes to the big ones. The small ones are alright because you can shove them in the boat but the big ones you have to swim them.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Are you concerned that the water will get higher?
Winston Davis,
“Oh yes I am concerned because for the fowls, the ducks, and everything there is no land. I am very concerned about the water. There is nothing we can do, it is God’s work but we just have to get the animals out and then we can handle the water.”
At the entrance to Burrell Boom Village it was not only cattle being rescued but dogs. Sections of the road are now under three feet of water that makes it impassable for most vehicles. The home of Jason D’ O Campo situated by the banks of the Belize River is surrounded by the flooded waters. D’ o campo isn’t certain if inside his home will get water but it has been rising
Jason D’ O Campo, Resident – Burrell Boom
“About a couple of days ago, I think
it started Saturday night.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
It’s amazing just looking at this house and all the water surrounding it. You obviously have some damages in there.
Jason D’ O Campo,
“Well pretty much the yard but it hasn’t reached inside of the house yet because the house is kind of built high but hopefully it doesn’t reach that far. I am trying to secure everything inside the house but my whole yard is messed up right now.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
I know you’re walking in water almost up to your waist, you have any plans relocate?
Jason D’ O Campo,
“Yeah actually we’re staying in Belize City right now, we just came back to get the dogs.”
Alan Auil, Good Samaritan
“I just came in to try and help my brother in law get his two dogs out of the area because the yard seems to be maybe two and a half feet under water now. The dogs are out in the yard and if it continues to rise they would be in danger and certainly it is not the kind of situation that you want to leave them in so I came here to lend a hand and use the pickup truck that we have from JMA Motors and get the two dogs to safety.”
It is expected that the flooding will continue as the rising water makes its way down the Belize River. Just how high it will get is anybody’s guess but those people living in low lying areas are being advised to monitor the situation. Jacqueline Godwin reporting for 7NEWS.
More on the floods ahead as we’ll tell you whose helping the flood victims.
