Hours of rain wreak havoc in Portland

Gareth Davis Sr, Gleaner Writer

Port Antonio, Portland:

Eight hours of torrential rain left several communities and roadways flooded in Portland on the weekend, and caused land slippage and the collapse of a retaining wall in Hope Bay.

Saturday's downpour was the heaviest since December last year when sections of Buff Bay, Hope Bay, Windsor Castle, and St Margaret's Bay were inundated, and several roadways were left blocked for hours.

"We really got a heavy downpour," said Councilor Rupert Kelly of the Hope Bay division. "It rained all day and, as a result, the parish road infrastructure has been damaged."

He added: "There is a landslide at Claverty Cottage, resulting in the collapse of a house. Luckily, no one was hurt. It therefore means that the Portland Parish Council will have to fast-track funds to assist with the restoration work."

A retaining wall along the North Coast Highway also collapsed during the heavy rains. That retaining wall borders two houses, and the Hope Bay United Church, which are perched on a slope. Residents and church members are fearful that if the wall is not restored soon, their buildings could also be in danger of collapse.

Denise Lewis, parish coordinator of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, said the heavy rainfall left sections of Fruitful Vale and Swift River inundated. She also said that the occupants of a house, which collapsed at Claverty Cottage, are now staying with other residents.

In the meantime, work has started near Hope Bay to clear a section of that roadway, which was partially blocked following the collapse of a retaining wall.

Although other areas, including the Rio Grande Valley, experienced a heavy downpour, there were no reports of flooding.