Evacuation underway as flooding in Lethem, Reg. 9 worsens

Evacuation efforts are underway in Lethem, the capital town of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) as residents’ homes are flooding following an increase in floodwaters flowing from the Amazon in Brazil that was exacerbated by torrential rains on Tuesday.

“It is flooded and the water (is) still coming in,” Regional Chairman of Region Nine, Brian Allicock told the News Room on Wednesday morning via telephone.

At the time of engagement, the Regional Chairman was busy trying to provide some redress to the residents. He highlighted that the regional authorities would be evacuating residents to shelters on higher ground in the town from 10:30 hrs.

“They pack up and so already,” he said, noting that people’s homes have been flooded since yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Regional Chairman also related that the truckload of hampers sent from Georgetown by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) arrived in the town on Wednesday morning.

But the situation is not confined to Lethem. In fact, most of the villages in Region Nine are inundated with seasonal flooding.

“All the villages are calling in to say that their cassavas are rotten…. We have to check in later to see what aid can be provided,” the Regional Chairman said too.

Peter Isaacs, one of the farmers in the Deep South village of Karaudarnau, “All the cassava underwater and the crops may die as long as the weather stay like this…. The majority of farmers are in the same situation.”

On Tuesday, the Toshao of Karaudarnau, Apollas Isaacs related that only the farms were flooded. But on Wednesday, the farmer highlighted that the floodwater had spread to the village and that people’s homes and gardens were flooded.

This situation is evolving and the News Room will continue to provide updates.