Photo by Tara Chang
Police tape prevents motorists and pedestrians from entering Main Street, Ocho Rios, yesterday, due to flooding allegedly caused by a broken water main.Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
ST. ANN, Moneague:
Flooding associated with islandwide rainfall several months ago, is still affecting the communities of Swamp and Foreman's Hill as well as Clapham in Moneague, St. Ann.
So far, about 30 houses in the area have been flooded, some fully covered by water, while the road leading to the community of Swamp and a section of the Moneague to River Head main road remains inundated.
Already, more than 50 families have had to be evacuated following the flooding of their homes and properties. A boat has become the only means of transport for some of the residents moving in and out of the communities.
Officials of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and Member of Parliament for the area, Aloun Assamba, comfirmed plans to evacuate more residents from the area.
more homes under threat
With the water now rising at a rate of 21/2 inches per day, according to the Water Resources Authority, and already beginning to threaten several more houses in the area, officials of the ODPEM have agreed there will have to be more evacuation before it is too late.
The prolonged period of flooding in Moneague is causing serious concern among health officials in St. Ann who now fear a serious outbreak of water-borne diseases.
Chief Public Health Inspector, Granville McKenzie, said the health department has carried out tests of the water which show that it is highly contaminated.
Mr. McKenzie pointed out that flooded pit latrines and pig pens were among the contaminants. He is, therefore, warning that there be absolutely no form of contact with the water, neither fishing, bathing, washing nor even touching the water.
And while the flooding is being facilitated mostly in part by the Moneague Lake, which has been on the rise since the flood rains in July, mystery surrounds the likely cause of the rising flood water at this time when there has been no heavy rainfall in the area in over three months.
