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Thousands marooned after massive landslide in Rio Grande Valley, Portland

Published:Saturday | March 18, 2017 | 12:00 AM
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MP for East Portland Dr Linvale Bloomfield points to the blocked roadway, at London in the Upper Rio Grande Valley, Portland while Pastor Stanley Wilson looks on.
A man walks towards the landslide that blocked the main road at London, Seaman’s Valley in the Upper Rio Grande Valley of Portland.
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Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer

Thousands of residents are now marooned in the upper Rio Grande Valley community of London in Portland, after persistent rainfall over the past 36 hours triggered a massive landslide.

The rain has also left several roadways inundated.

Meanwhile, rising waters are now threatening several hectares of fully grown banana plants as the Rio Grande could overflow its banks.

“This is yet another disaster affecting residents in this flood and disaster prone area," said Dr Linvale Bloomfield, Member of Parliament for Eastern Portland.

Bloomfield says he has alerted the National Works Agency (NWA) of the crisis situation, and a heavy-duty equipment was dispatched to the area to clear the blockage so that at least single-lane traffic can be accommodated.

Residents woke up to find that their only access route was blocked by several boulders and dirt, which reportedly came tumbling down shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday.