FLOODING was yesterday reported across sections of the island as heavy rains from a low pressure system which has been affecting the island since Sunday continued to lash several parishes.

Last night, the National Meteorological Service placed Jamaica under a flash flood warning, and asked residents of low-lying and flood-prone areas to be on the lookout for fast-rising waters and to take precautionary actions as heavy showers were expected to continue affecting all parishes today.

“As the system lingers in the vicinity of the island, cloudy conditions with frequent periods of showers and thunderstorms, which may be heavy at times, are expected,” the Met Service said. It warned fishermen and other marine interests to be cautious as sea conditions were expected to be rough in the vicinity of showers

and thunderstorms.

Yesterday, at least six homes and a school in three parishes were affected by flooding, according to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).

In the Corporate Area, the Shoemaker Gully overflowed its banks, flooding three houses at the corner of Gem Road and Greenwich Street.

The ODPEM also reported that the Yallahs Fire Brigade had to assist residents in three houses along North Marine Drive, Albion Estates in St Thomas that were affected by flooding. The affected Albion residents went to shelter with family members.

The National Works Agency (NWA) was, in the meantime, asked to clear drains in that community.

In St Catherine, the fire brigade was asked to assist with the evacuation of students from Old Harbour Bay Primary School because of flooding at the school’s entrance.

The NWA was also expected to clear a blocked drain which runs along the school compound which may have been the cause of the flooding. Water levels were also reportedly rising in Bog Pond, in the Upper Bannister area, just outside Old Harbour in St Catherine.

Last night, Ronald Jackson, the ODPEM’s director-general, told the Observer that some of the flooding that occurred yesterday were due to blocked drains.

“The blockages were reported to the National Works Agency, but unfortunately at the end of the day we were not able to get a follow-up as to the status of those,” he said. “I know they attended to some in Kingston and St Andrew and in St Thomas, but I am not sure whether or not they got around to the one in Old Harbour Bay.”

Stephen Shaw, communications manager at the NWA, could not be reached last night.

Earlier yesterday, the ODPEM reported flooding along Patrick Street in Old Harbour and the Bay Bottom main road, St Catherine; Marcus Garvey Drive and Chisholm Avenue in Kingston; and Weise Road in Nine Miles, Bull Bay.

The Hordley Crossing/Hector’s River Road could only accommodate large vehicles, while mud and debris blocked a section of Old Road in Danvers Pen, St Thomas. Flooding was also reported along the road leading to Serge Island, York and Seaforth, also in St Thomas.

The ODPEM also reported that the road surface along Brandsbury in Yallahs; Anglican Lane in Trinityville; 11 Miles, Bull Bay; and Grant’s Pen to Pamphret, all in the eastern parish of St Thomas, were extensively scoured during the heavy rains yesterday.

The rains also caused several traffic delays, and forced several parents to keep their children from school, while up to 10:00 in the morning several commuters were still seen at bus stops awaiting transportation to get to work.