Massive boulder rattles Rillan Hill residents

Officials from various government agencies are looking to take quick action to remove a boulder estimated to weigh over 60,000 pounds, which poses a threat to residents of Rilland Hill.{{more}}

At press time on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, plans were being made by the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), the International Airport Development Company (IADC), the Forestry Department and the engineers from the Ministry of Works to remove or reduce the size of the boulder as soon as possible.

On Monday night, at about 7pm, following steady rains,

residents of the area reported hearing thunder-like rumblings and the sounds of breaking trees and branches in the hills, but were unable to investigate.

On Tuesday morning, however, they discovered that a boulder close to ten feet high was the cause of the trouble.

NEMO manager Howie Prince, who arrived at the scene shortly after the discovery, said that initial assessments indicate that the boulder had fallen from a considerable height before rolling down the gully.

According to Prince, part of the rock broke off as it fell and destroyed two large ‘gru gru’ trees and a mango tree, as well as many others that stood in its path.

It was stopped, however, by a tree that was located in the right place at the right angle.

Prince said that by estimations, the boulder travelled more than half a mile at considerable speed before stopping and would have reached the Rilland Hill main road had it not been for the tree.

He said that any structure in the boulder’s path would have been demolished.

Up to press time, the officials had not yet determined the best course of action to take to dispose of the rock, which they consider to be an imminent threat to the community.

Options were to use heavy machinery to create a ditch

for the rock or blasting the rock.

The NEMO manager warned that there are a number of similar areas around the island which face the same danger, citing that it was not uncommon for boulders to break loose.

He said that so far Vincentians have been fortunate. (JJ)