Flood-prone Old Harbour communities inundated

Heavy and continuous rainfall over the last 16 hours has led to widespread flooding and landslides, with several areas in southwest St Catherine, including Old Harbour affected.

The community of Bushy Park is facing particularly severe conditions. A makeshift footbridge built by residents after the original structure was destroyed in July was swept away by the surging Coburn Gully. This has left the community divided, further compounding the already difficult living conditions.

The gully has overflowed its banks, flooding key roadways such as the Spring Village to Gutters main road, particularly near the Guardsman area. This has rendered the road impassable, further complicating access to and from these communities.

Nightingale Grove and Bannister communities are on high alert due to rising waters in the Coburn Gully and the notorious Big Pond. The flooding in these areas is creating hazardous conditions, and many residents are reportedly stranded as floodwaters continue to rise.

The infamous Big Pond has swollen, leaving residents stranded on either side of Bannister Road, with only large vehicles advised to test the floodwaters. The inundation here has isolated many, cutting them off from the rest of Old Harbour.

Elsewhere, widespread flooding has been reported across other parts of the island, particularly in Negril, where the town has been transformed into a sea of murky water. Images of flooded streets and landslides from rural St Andrew, St Mary, and Portland further highlight the extent of the storm's damage.

This continuous downpour has caused extensive damage across the country, leaving many communities in a dire situation. Emergency responders are likely facing challenges reaching some of these areas due to the roadblocks caused by the floodwaters, and rescue operations will be crucial in the coming hours.

Given the severity of the situation, local authorities will need to act swiftly to assist stranded residents and minimize further damage from the storm.