Tonight, flooding persists in the Belize and Orange Walk districts and its
getting worse in many areas. The depth, scale and scope are st6aggering.
First to the Belize River Valley: in Crooked Tree, water levels continue to
rise, same goes for Maypen, Double Run, Burrell Boom and Grace Bank. There is
some good news for residents of Rancho and Lemonal where the water level has
gone down by four inches. Similarly in St. Paul's, Willows Bank, Double Head
Cabbage, Bermudian Landing, Flowers Bank and Isabella Bank the water levels
are steady.
And while that is some slight relief today communities along the Northern Highway
including parts of Sandhill, Gardenia, and Biscayne, a number of families had
to move due to rising water. It is expected that communities along the old northern
road will also be affected eventually.
And while the flooding is one thing, losses of livestock and agriculture are
another. Some estimates say that as much as 90% of crops in this area have been
lost and most live stock owners will lose about 25% of their herds.
More than that, experts say that many of the areas like Crooked Tree which
are completely inaccessible tonight, will remain that way for months because
of the wetland nature of the Belize District. The greatest need right now is
for food and basic supplies to those communities which have been completely
cut off.
And the news is not much better in Orange Walk, where water is rising on the
Rio Hondo, affecting the Albion island villages of San Antonio, San Roman and
San Victor and the nearby Douglas Village.
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