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Tonight, there is heavy flooding reported in western Belize.

Footage and pictures coming out of Arenal, Benque Viejo, San Ignacio and Santa Elena show water coursing through the streets like rivers - with current!

It's a disturbing scene and it comes after - from earlier today - the MOPAN RIVER at Benque Viejo Town was reported bankfull stage while on the MACAL RIVER, at FORTIS facilities, reservoir levels at Challillo, Mollejon and VACA spillways were. active;

Today's flood advisory warned of flooding on the Macal and Mopan rivers - and that has been compounded by heavy rains in the west today.

And all this 48 hours before Tropical Storm Sara makes landfall in Belize. As we have reported, the main threat from this system is heavy rainfall - as much as 10 to 15 inches over 5 days.

Today the Chief Hydrologist spoke about the flooding threat:

Tennielle Hendy, Chief Hydrologist "We do have a flood warning still in effect for the Rio Hondo, Macal, Nopan and Belize Rivers. Some of the roads in the north are still impassable. As we move to region seven, you can see that where -even though it's at flood stage levels - it is decreasing at the moment. In region nine, we have the Mopan and the Belize rivers are still at bankfull or flood stage and the three dam facilities, the spillways are still active. A departure from the flood forecasts issued yesterday is that we are now seeing that the Sibun river is, exhibiting or reflecting increasing, above normal, levels."

"With the estimated accumulation of ten inches of rainfall, over a five day period, what we can expect that we will be seeing, flooding in those areas that will be affected, the areas that are already flooded, If you receive additional rainfall, we can see that extent widening in these areas. And when it cannot, what we say, spread out anymore, the extent it will go deeper. So we might see an increase in the flood level height or the height of the water in your area."