Gracie Rock Residents Report Rising Waters as Floods Impact Belize District

Other parts of the country are also being affected by flooding, like Gracie Rock in the Belize District. Residents of the village, which sits near the Sibun River, sent us images of the rising river levels this morning.  By this evening, several of them had been affected by flooding. Villager Carlton Young, who lives near the waterways, spoke about the situation. 

Carlton Young, Resident, Gracie Rock: “Water is very very high. Some of the people that live more up in the village they can’t get down here because the use of canoe or a boat. They have to use a canoe or boat, even the guys that go to work they have to come in canoe and they have to get home early because it gets dark quick and the water, well right now it’s on a standstill. It’s going down a little bit. But the water is high in the river. I think in the road we have a bit of water in the road coming in.”

Reporter: Is this type of flooding normal for your guys around this time ?

Carlton Young, Resident, Gracie Rock: “Not really. No. But just that we got a lot of rain. This river can’t take rain. It comes up, it goes down, it comes up, it goes down. And then I hear there is a little bad weather between today and Friday we might expect more water but if it rains it will come back up.”

Young says that at least ten families are currently affected by the floods and pleaded for assistance from the authorities. 

Carlton Young, Resident, Gracie Rock: “I am the first place when you reach in Gracie Rock. My land is like the highest land right back here. I don’t have any water on top of my land yet but the rest of villagers they’re covered with water. It rained off and on every now and again it rains, it stops, it rains, it stops. Right now it’s not raining but it’s gonna come. We’re not in no danger right now like that but they could get some help like some little rations or something you know ? Because it’s difficult to get out to go shop, it’s hard right now. About ten families they are affected and can’t get out, there’s no way how they could get out to go shopping. They’re trapped by the river, the water. Some people have canoes, some people don’t have canoes and from here where I’m at to get to them you have to use a canoe. It’s kinda pretty low in the road.”