Heavy rainfall causing havoc in sections of western Jamaica
HANOVER, Jamaica — The National Works Agency (NWA) is currently conducting a damage assessment on a section of the Kendall to Glasgow main road in Hanover, which was split in two and severely eroded by heavy rainfall on Thursday.
Videos of the damage in Kendal, along with flooding in Westmoreland, have been circulating on social media following five days of heavy downpours across sections of western Jamaica.
Despite the severe damage to the Kendal roadway, NWA’s Community Relations Officer, Western Region, Janel Ricketts told the Observer Online that there is no immediate threat to pedestrians.
“There is no danger [posed] for pedestrians. However, motorists may damage their vehicles if they try to access the road,” stated Ricketts.
The alternate route will see motorists traveling through Kingsvale to Prospect via Caudwell.
Ricketts noted that there remains some amount of rainfall which is leading to settling of water on some roads in the west. “However nothing major at this time,” she assured.
On Tuesday, motorists traveling between Negril and Montego Bay were left stranded temporarily due to the Riley River, also known as the Lucea West River, overflowing its banks resulting in the flooding of the town.
On Wednesday and Thursday, there were reports of flooding in sections of Westmoreland, including Savanna-la-Mar.
One resident of Harmony Town in Savanna-la-Mar in a video posted on social media argued that the muddy water that flooded her house on two separate days was caused by the blockage of nearby drains.
— Anthony Lewis.