Athaliah Reynolds, Staff Reporter

Road blocks, flooded homes and landslides were just some of the many concerns of residents in several communities across Kingston and St. Andrew yesterday as heavy rainfall continued to lash the island.

The Eric Bell Bridge, which joins the communities of Kintyre and Tavern in St. Andrew, was no match for the strong currents of the Hope River as its banks began to swell, washing away the only available overpass for motorists.

At present the only route out of the community is the 'swinging bridge' located on the other side of the district. However, residents said vehicles are trapped in Kintyre until the bridge is mended.

One man told The Gleaner the original structure was first destroyed almost 20 years ago during Hurricane Gilbert in 1988.

"A from Gilbert de bridge bruck weh and all dem do a dump it up wid dirt and rock so that de car dem can pass through," he said. "But every time de rain fall it wash weh again and trap di people dem over Kintrye."

home lost

Another man who said he lost his home in a similar situation to the Hope River was adamant that something has to be done to preserve the vulnerable structure.

"It cyaan stay so, what if somebody dead, how wi get dem cross?" he asked. "War a gwaan over deh now and not even police vehicle can mek it cross."

There were similar concerns in the community of New Haven, located off Washington Boulevard.

Along the appropriately named Riverside Drive, residents were seen skilfully treading, knee deep, through the murky water which had flooded the roadways.

One woman, who was forced to shout from her neighbour's house to the news team, as she was trapped by the high waters, said she had to flee from her home on Thursday night, as the water entered her house.

"Everything wet up," she said. "Mi bed, all a mi furniture, everything."

We were also told by several residents assembled at a grocery shop that there were boys charging a fee to those who needed to get across the community on their makeshift boat.

A very plump woman told The Gleaner: "Yeah man, de water so high that mi haffi tek one boat come roun' yah so. Dem charge mi $100 fi de ride, cause dem charge depending pan yuh size," she said.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com