NEMO gives report on deadly trough system
One life was lost and another is still unaccounted for, following the passage of a trough system, which affected the island from early Wednesday morning through Thursday night.
According to a Situation Report from the director (Ag) of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) Michelle Forbes, the trough system produced heavy rainfall, flash floods, landslides and damage to several homes on mainland St Vincent and Bequia.{{more}}
Eleven-year-old Philip Compton of Bequia was killed after being swept away in a drain; however, the cause of death still has not been determined. The autopsy is expected to be carried out today.
On the mainland, the Coastguard is continuing to search the waters off the south western coast of St Vincent for eight-year-old Jacquan May, who is still unaccounted for, after he was swept away by a rush of water behind his home.
After being rescued by villagers while attempting to save his younger brotherâs life, 10-year-old Jaafan May was rushed to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH), where he is currently a patient in the Paediatric Ward.
An 80-year-old resident in the Glen/Mespo area was safely relocated.
During the passage of the trough system, which dumped around seven inches of rain across St Vincent and the Grenadines, schools were ordered closed and civil servants told to remain at home on Wednesday. The public was asked to stay off the roads.
All schools, with the exception of the Emmanuel High School Mesopotamia and the Buccament Seventh Day Adventist School were reopened yesterday.
Fifty persons are currently being housed at emergency shelters and 38 houses were reportedly damaged.
The only major damage to infrastructure was to the Argyle bypass road for the Windward Highway, which had to be closed yesterday.
The ET Joshua Airport, which was flooded on Wednesday, re-opened yesterday.
The yard at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and the sterilization room were flooded, while district hospitals remained fully functioning.
The Central Water and Sewerage Authority reported several broken pipelines and blockages to intakes and water supply in some areas was interrupted until further notice.
Eight electric poles was down and power outages were reported in the following areas: Cane Hall to Marriaqua, Gomea, Marriaqua to Yamboo, including sections of Peruvian Vale, Cane Hall to Queens Drive, sections of Sion Hill and Dorsetshire Hill, and Cumberland and Cane Grove. However, yesterday afternoon, Vinlec reported that electricity had been restored to all areas.
Teams from BRAGSA were out yesterday clearing roads in Colonarie, La Croix, Fairbaine Pasture, Belmont and Ratho Mill.
The teams are still expected to be out clearing debris around the island. (CM)
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