7 News Belize

Floods Finally Reach Belize City
posted (November 4, 2013)
NEMO's latest advisory issued this evening says that water is receding in most areas of the country - except for Crooked Tree, where the causeway remains closed to traffic and will be that way until further notice. Residents of the area continue to be serviced by a Coast Guard vessel.

But there are still isolated flooding events in different parts of the country and NEMO warns the public to avoid walking and driving through flood waters to keep their children out of the water. Sounds good on paper but in practical terms it's virtually impossible - especially for residents of Belama Phase 3. We found that out when we visited today and found water with nowhere to go. Monica Bodden reports:...

Monica Bodden reporting
The rains have now stopped but some residents of Belama Phase 3 and 4 are left to cope with the after effects. Parts of the small community remains under water- some areas flooded up to 3 feet high.

For most people, the only way to get to and from their home is to walk through the murky and unhygienic waters.

Area Resident
"It is really flooded and when students walk there it affects them because they need to take off their shoes and walk in the water. In the water there are snakes and other bad things in there."

Monica Bodden
"Does the water smell?"

Area Resident
"Yes because it is not clean."

Jose Paz - Area Resident
"Some people say they see crocodiles in that same pool over there."

Monica Bodden
"You are telling me that it has gone down drastically since two days ago?"

Jose Paz - Area Resident
"Yes."

Monica Bodden
"But it's still deep as we can see."

Jose Paz - Area Resident
"This area never dries; it's always full of water. People cannot pass through this water because when they pass in their car, the car stuck."

Little Elmer was sent to the neighborhood shop to purchase eggs for his family. He must walk through this dark pool of water - settled on the roadway- both going and coming. The water reaches the young child to his legs- enough to cover his rubber boots.

Jose Paz - Area Resident
"It's really hard because especially in this area. Like two day ago my street was flooded and you couldn't see anything but water. I had to walk through this water to my grandmother's shop to purchase tortillas and the water reaches up my knees. I rather go all the way round through the bridge to avoid this water because this water is not good. People say they get things on their foot."

Richard Williams have been living in the area for almost a year now.

Richard Williams - Area Resident
"Well right now I am staying at my brother's house but even there is flooded too. The thing is that won't do any better; people say that only when there is an election they will work on the place. Honestly and truly I don't know what will happen."

Monica Bodden
"So you have to take off your footwear to walk to where you are going?"

Richard Williams - Area Resident
"Yes ma'am."

Monica Bodden
"How deep is the water?"

Richard Williams - Area Resident
"The water usually reaches my at my knee."

Monica Bodden
"This has been occurring for how long?"

Richard Williams - Area Resident
"As soon as we got the rains; I don't know how long it will remain like this."

Williams, who is fully equipped for the situation, put his tennis shoe in a bag and then put on his slippers before entering into the water to make his way home.

A drainage project for Belama phase 3 was promised years ago with multilateral funding but we haven't heard or seen anything since.

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