REGIONAL- Rooftops blown off, flash flooding across Trinidad

(Source: Newsday TT) – Strong winds have blown off the rooftops of several homes in south and central Trinidad on Saturday morning. There have also been several flash flooding reports, and residents are bracing for the worst if heaving rain continues. There were also reports of flooding in east Trinidad in Five Rivers, Bon Air West, and Tacarigua.

In one case, a house is said to have collapsed at Gasparillo due to rapid land movements.

Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation (CTTRC) chairman Henry Awong said members of the disaster management unit were out in the field assessing the situation.

“We have a team on the ground. Roofs were blown off at Caratal Road in Gasparillo, Rose Hill in Claxton Bay, Balmain in Couva, and at Indian Trial. A tree fell at Carli Bay. So far, we have no reports of flooding,” Awong said by phone.

Shortly after 10 am, TT Weather Centre reported on its Facebook page that Antilles Trace, San Francique, Penal was impassable to most vehicles. The centre advised people to avoid travelling that route.

Barrackpore West councillor Nicholas Kanhai told Newsday he got several flash flooding reports and visited some of the areas.

Areas affected included Rochard Road in Barrackpore, Papourie Road in Lower Barrackpore, and parts of Mohess Road in Penal.

“The water went down, but if the rain continues, things will worsen. The sun was hot, then the weather changed, and rain started,” Kanhai said.

“We (Penal/ Debe Regional Corporation) are monitoring the situation. For three hours, it has been raining. Usually, when the rain falls like this, we feel the effects the day after when water from as far as Moruga reaches Penal/ Debe.”

So far, there were no reports of loss of lives of animals.