Disaster! Mudslide in Ocho Rios, surrounding communities flooded

Date Published: 
18 Apr 2008

IT was a scene played out before, only this time it was the worst ever.

A frontal system that moved across the island Wednesday night dumped several inches of rain on St Ann’s northern coastline, resulting in tons of mud being deposited in the resort town of Ocho Rios, bringing all business activities to a halt along the lower section of Main Street yesterday.

In surrounding communities —Pimento Walk, Parry Town, Harrison Town, Mansfield Flat, Snow Hill, Fern Gully, New Hope and White River — there were reports of severe flooding affecting residents.

St Ann Parish Disaster Co-ordinator Alvin Clarke, who was heading into an emergency meeting at around 3:00 pm, confirmed 20 cases of severe flooding being investigated by his office.

He said another 29 cases in Harrison Town had been confirmed but not yet investigated.

There were also reports of six cases of flooding in Mansfield Flats and 14 in Snow Hill. Along Milford Road, a wall at a garage collapsed on three vehicles, causing significant damage.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) also reported that a retaining wall collapsed in Mansfield Flats resulting in severe damage to a house.

"There have been no reports of injuries," Clarke confirmed.

A spokesman at the meteorological office at the Norman Manley International Airport told the Observer that the rain, which started Wednesday and lasted into yesterday, was caused by a frontal system that moved across the island, with an upper level system continuing to prolong the showers.

- By Carl Gilchrist, Observer Staff Reporter

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