Trincity, Tunapuna residents hit hard by flash flooding

RESIDENTS of Trincity and Tunapuna were hit the hardest after thunder showers around midday on Wednesday caused flash flooding in various parts of Trinidad on Wednesday.

Up to 3.45 pm, the eastbound lanes of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway were flooded between Orange Grove Road and Trincity, with drivers opting to use the right lane of the westbound carriageway instead, to bypass the water. Parts of the southbound lanes of the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway near the Couva flyover were also partially flooded. An update from the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government (MoRDLG) also reported flooding on the Priority Bus Route near Macoya. The flooded roadways caused major traffic pile-ups in both regions.

Chairman of the Tunapuna Piarco Regional Corporation Desell Josiah Austin, who spoke to Newsday as he visited affected areas on Wednesday evening, said flooding in his corporation was mostly limited to the Trincity and Macoya districts.

He said, up to 7 pm, assessments showed that floodwaters had entered nine homes across both districts even as residents battled massive street flooding.

"We've assessed the damage, and our disaster management unit, we are up and about doing assessments. Besides seeing the need to pump out some of the water, we are working with some of our agencies to assist in terms of restoration and clean-up efforts.

On the flooding on the highway near Orange Grove Road, Austin said the area was typically prone to such events. He said desilting works by the Ministry of Works and Transport helped mitigate the impacts on Wednesday but there was significant infrastructure work that had to be done to rectify it. He also said police were contacted to manage the traffic flow.

Videos emerging on social media showed power lines sparking in a torrential downpour near UWI, St Augustine, and flooding in the same area and Tunapuna along the Eastern Main Road.

Newsday employee Warren La Platte said he and his roommate were flooded at their Beaulieu, Trincity, home.

For La Platte, it was the first time his home had been flooded. He said the rains began around 1.30 pm and, within half an hour, water started entering the apartment from the inundated street. He said there was around five inches of water inside the house. He said the cost of the damage was still being assessed.

"(The threat of flooding) was always something I had in the back of my mind, but I guess it was a false sense of security spending almost a year here and not seeing anything close to any water even thinking about coming inside."

He said his neighbours were fortunate not to share in his fate. He believes the position of his house on the street played a role in the incident.

"The street angles down. We're at the bottom of the street right where the drain is to drain out the water. So it looks like it's an issue where the water accumulated too fast for the drain to deal with and we got the brunt of it."

He said his vehicle was parked on the pavement yet water managed to breach the doors and enter the vehicle.

However, others weren't so lucky.

Videos emerging on social media showed power lines sparking in a torrential downpour near UWI, St Augustine, and flooding in that area and in Tunapuna, along the Eastern Main Road.

In south Trinidad, there were reports of street flooding near Piparo junction, Williamsville, Penal and Princes Town.

In its 10 am forecast on Wednesday, the TT Meteorological Service said initially sunny conditions would be interrupted by a few partly cloudy periods with showers at times.

It predicted a 60 per cent or medium chance of isolated afternoon heavy showers or thunderstorms, favouring hilly and western areas. It warned gusty winds and street or flash flooding could occur in the event of heavy showers or thunderstorms.

For Thursday, the service forecasts partly cloudy spells with showers in a few areas, with a medium (60 per cent) chance of thunderstorms. Similarly, it warned that gusty winds and street or flash flooding could occur in the event of heavy showers or thunderstorms.