Guacamallo Bridge Now Passable as Flood Water Recedes

Several bridges and ferries in the Cayo District remain closed to both pedestrians and motorists. As of today, the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) says all vehicles are still unable to access the low lying bridge and the one in Iguana Creek.  Meanwhile, the Baking Pott and the Xunantunich Ferries are closed to the public. Water levels on the Mopan and Macal Rivers are receding but continue to affect the thoroughfares. This morning, the Guacamallo Bridge in the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve was also impassable. By this evening, however, the Chairman of San Antonio Village Aaron Tzib, said the water on the bridge had already receded. 

Aaron Tzib, San Antonio Village, Chairman: “The good news is that the water has receded. So the river is flowing normal again so it’s under the bridge I can say. From the footage you can see that it’s again back on track and so even the road leading to the Pine Ridge area the road construction unit is upgrading the road like some parts that have not been paved yet but the grader is there and they’re scraping it. Well I think from now on the tourists can go back agin to Caracol. It’s five days that we always have that problem whenever the Guacamallo bridge it goes up that level how it was it’s five day until it goes back to normal. 

Reporter: Okay so this is around an average time for things to normalize ? 

Aaron Tzib, San Antonio Village, Chairman: “Yes. Five days, six days depending on if it stops raining but if it continues to rain it will go back quick because as I say the Chalillo Dam is very full so a little more rain it’s gonna be affecting us again. Yes right now every thing is good and even my village that had some minor problems with the water system but finally and thank God for the hard working crew that we managed to restore it and it’s back functioning 100% and the village has water again as normal.”

Tzib says the water levels are not expected to increase.