JDF rescues 24 trapped in floodwaters in St Thomas
The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Air Wing (AW) rescued 24 residents trapped in flood waters in an area of St Thomas on Friday.
The residents had been marooned at the intersection of Amity Hall and Golden Grove in the parish since Thursday, the result of persistent heavy rain lashing the island
On Friday morning, the JDF AW airlifted the stranded residents to the Wheelersfield Commuity Centre in the parish in an operation lead by Major L Moulton and Lieutenant O Gordon, the JDF said in a social media post.
The heavy rainfall and strong winds being experienced are due to an area of disturbed weather, with the potential to become a tropical storm by Friday night, the Meteorological Service of Jamaica said. As a result, the Met Service issued a tropical storm watch for the island.
A flash flood warning is in effect for low-lying and flood prone areas of southern and eastern parishes including Kingston, St Andrew, St Thomas, St Catherine, Portland, St Mary, Westmoreland and St Elizabeth.