RESIDENTS ARE BEING warned to stay indoors as the island has been hard hit by flooding that left residents trapped, vehicles washed away and roads impassable.
The initial flood warning issued until 4 p.m. has been extended to 8 p.m., while firefighters spent the day rescuing people and pumping off threatening waters from districts.
Director of the Department of Emergency Management Kerry Ann Hinds warned residents not to go outside unless absolutely necessary and motorists to stay clear of flooded roads.
She said the disaster preparedness agency had received reports from across the island, many of which came from St Michael, St Philip and St George and the usual flood prone areas that included Holetown, St James. A number of roads were obstructed, including the Ermie Bourne Highway in St Andrew.
“If you don’t have to go outside don’t, and if you are on the road you need to be careful and exercise the necessary precautions. If the road looks impassable, find an alternative route,” Hinds stated.
The 1:30 p.m. Sam Lord’s Castle bus left with a full load. (Picture by Reco Moore)
In St Thomas the stables of the Rugby Plantation were severely damaged as well as the home of a man at Hillaby, St Thomas.
The Met Office blamed the steady rains that turned some areas into ponds and roads into gushing waterways on a combination of a trough system and the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone that generated pockets of moderate to heavy showers and periods of rain. The conditions, it said, are expected to persist during the afternoon with some improvement likely into tonight.
The Barbados Fire Service spent the day saving people from vehicles flooded out by the high waters and pumping water from the areas so residents could access their homes.
Acting Chief Fire Officer Lloydson Phillips said all the fire stations were pressed into action. All the trucks at the St John, St James, Bridgetown and Worthing station were taking part in rescues well into the evening because of the bad weather. (AC)
A senior citizen taking a taxi home after shopping in Bridgetown today. (Picture by Reco Moore)
