While the PM is breathing a sigh of relief, so is Mayor Earl Trapp. The mayor of the Twin Towns is seeing the light at the end of the flooded tunnel as he told us today he saw the water starting to recede throughout the downtown area of San Ignacio. This is huge relief considering that the residents were travelling through the streets by canoe earlier today!
But, the towns can't celebrate yet because while the Macal River is slowly receding, the Mopan River keeps swelling. Town residents, as well as those in Bullet Tree and surrounding villages, will see flood waters continue to rise. Those that evacuated their homes may not be able to return anytime soon. Still, there is some hope since, according to Mayor Trapp, the rains have significantly lessened.
Earl Trapp, Mayor, San Ignacio
"I notice that the water is quickly receding. By Hodes all that area was impossible, now vehicles are coming from north to south can go. The entire of Hodes Place - that has receded. Basically it seem to have wash out the outside parking or the cement platform. I went around Burns Avenue by Courts where it was rapidly rising this morning and in that area as well it has receded considerably. So, to me it seems as if though this side Macal River is rapidly subsiding. I believe from what I've been observing that here in San Ignacio and Santa Elena Towns, I believe the water will continue to recede, but it will reach a point whereby it will remain stagnant for a little while because of the fact that the river from Bullet Tree, the Mopan River, that will continue ti pressure water down mainstream and by branch mouth where the two river meets that's where the water from the Macal River will begin to stagnate to a certain extent. It will go very slowly, so I am expecting that the water level from San Ignacio Town whenever it reaches a certain level it will recede very slowly. So, I believe that by tomorrow morning if it continues at the level and at the pace that it's going down, it should be like half way if you are familiar with the area, it will be like half way between Bismilla Store and the Welcome Center bathroom."
Mayor Trapp told us that they have already begun cleaning the streets where the water has receded and left slick mud in its place.
