Landslides, fallen trees on North Coast

Residents along the North Coast and Blanchisseuse roads were cut off from the rest of Trinidad early yesterday morning as a result of landslides and fallen trees.

According to reports, numerous fallen tress on Blanchisseuse Road had cut off points of access out of Maracas Bay, Las Cuevas and La Fillette.

A landslide was also reported on the North Coast Road before the Maracas lookout leaving that road cut off from vehicular traffic.

Police and first responders including residents, were at the scene early.

Much of South, Central and East Trinidad remained under water yesterday morning. And for a second day, the TT Meteorological Service continued its riverine flood alert for Trinidad as the drenching continued.

In its 6 am bulletin, the Met Office said that with additional rainfall predicted for Trinidad, the flooding situation is expected to continue into today as some 20 to 30 millimetre of rain estimated.

The Met Office’s Rough Seas bulletin, issued on Thursday, remains in effect.

The early morning forecast predicted cloudy conditions with periods of rain or showers in varying localities with a high chance that some of these showers would become heavy and thundery. South and East Trinidad were expected to receive more of a drenching last night into this morning with heavier showers in the afternoon.

On Wednesday, the Met Service confirmed Caroni River had breached its banks leaving several areas along the Caroni South Bank Road through St Helena and to Las Lomas under water. Yesterday, the Caparo river breached its bank.

Photographs shared on social media showed, as at 8 am yesterday, roads around Piarco International Airport remained impassable to vehicles. The same was reported for several areas in South Trinidad. By 7 am yesterday, videos shared on social media showed flood water surging along Navet, South Trinidad, heading towards Rio Claro.

The San Francique Road in Penal was impassable at 8 am and water levels were rising on the Mosquito Creek, making it difficult for smaller vehicles. Early yesterday, the Oropouche River burst its banks leaving parts of Fyzabad, Woodland and surrounding areas under water.